‘If you’re not from Mumbai, Delhi or Punjab…’: Ex-India cricketer sparks debate after Ruturaj Gaikwad snub from ODI squad | Cricket News
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Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from India’s squad for the upcoming New Zealand series has triggered fresh debate around the BCCI selection committee’s approach. The CSK batter comes into the discussion on the back of a century against South Africa in his most recent outing, yet he still failed to find a place in the squad. His omission has coincided with the return of Shreyas Iyer, who has been named in the team after recovering from an injury sustained during the Australia tour. While Iyer’s inclusion remains subject to final fitness clearance, the selectors chose not to name Gaikwad even as a backup option, further fuelling questions over selection priorities.
Former India batter Robin Uthappa admitted he found Gaikwad’s exclusion difficult to comprehend and spoke at length about the mental toll such decisions can take on players. Reflecting on the realities of Indian cricket, Uthappa highlighted how players are often forced to operate under constant pressure. “Buddy, it’s very hard to process. You have to make it make sense, right? It takes a toll, and you need to almost kind of find silver linings to kind of lean back on,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel. “In these circumstances, it’s not the easiest thing to do. It’s hectic, and you’ve to find a way to see silver linings.” Uthappa also pointed to what he described as a “survival mode” mindset that dominates Indian cricket, stressing the importance of mental strength to navigate such challenges. “One of the challenges with Indian cricket is that you’re constantly operating on survival mode. And to switch from that mindset, it takes immense amount of resilience, immense amount of self-talk and positive self-talk, and you’ve to be able to be a silver linings guy,” he added. Gaikwad made his ODI debut in 2022 but has found opportunities hard to come by since then. Across nine matches, he has scored 228 runs at an average of 28.50, with one century and one fifty to his name. Uthappa further underlined how the road can be even tougher for players who do not come from India’s traditional cricketing powerhouses. He stressed that constant effort and persistence are essential to break through at the highest level. “And you’ve to find a way to keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, especially if you don’t come from one of three big states in India, which is Mumbai, Delhi, and Punjab. If you’re not from one of those states, then you’ve to keep pushing yourself, pushing yourself,” Uthappa said.
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