Team India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has expressed his disappointment over the exclusion of young batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad from the Indian squad for the upcoming series against South Africa. Gaikwad, who recently impressed in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been left out despite his impressive performances in domestic cricket. Many fans and experts have also questioned the decision to leave out the talented batter.
Recently appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav has spoken out about the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Indian squad for their upcoming T20I against South Africa. Despite Gaikwad's stellar performance in the domestic circuit and his strong showings in the T20I series against Zimbabwe earlier this year, he has not been included in the national team. While Yadav praised Gaikwad's skills and consistency, he reminded everyone that the team follows a specific selection process and that other players in good form also deserve their chance. With Yadav's leadership and Gaikwad's impressive record, fans are left wondering when will Gaikwad's "time" finally come on the national team stage.
The match between India A and Australia A in Melbourne has begun with a thrilling first day of play. Dhruv Jurel of India A showed his prowess with the bat, hitting a six among other impressive shots. Don't miss out on the action, subscribe now to watch the rest of the match!
CSK announced that they will retain MS Dhoni for INR 4 crore for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League. This decision was met with widespread celebration on social media, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the 43-year-old wicketkeeper-batter in action once again. Dhoni, who holds the record for most matches played in IPL history, has been an integral part of CSK since he joined the team in 2008. Along with Dhoni, CSK also retained Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja and other popular players for the upcoming season. This announcement comes as all ten IPL franchises have announced their list of retained players for the auction.
After months of speculation, legendary India captain MS Dhoni has confirmed his participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing relief to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and their fans. The decision has also provided clarity on CSK's retention strategy, with Dhoni expected to remain as an uncapped player due to a recently revived rule by the IPL Governing Council. CSK is now focused on finalizing their retention list, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and upcoming captain Ruturaj Gaikwad expected to be retained for INR 18 and 14 crore respectively. Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana has also reportedly agreed to be the third retention at INR 11 crore.
The BCCI has announced the 18-man squad for the upcoming Australian tour, including new names like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, while leaving out familiar ones like Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami. However, fans were disappointed to see Chennai Super Kings' Ruturaj Gaikwad missing from the squad, with some accusing BCCI of "favouritism". While the team remains strong, it will be interesting to see how they fare without Gaikwad's explosive batting in the middle order.
After being dropped from BCCI central contracts, wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan is set to make his return to the India A team for two four-day 'Tests' against Australia A. Kishan, who was leading Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy, will also play an intra-squad match with the senior Indian team. The squad for the series is yet to be announced, with either Ruturaj Gaikwad or Abhimanyu Easwaran expected to captain the team.
As India prepares to take on Australia in a five-match Test series later this year, the team's only warm-up game in Australia will be an internal contest against the India 'A' team. The 'A' team, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, will also play two games against Australia 'A' before facing the senior team. The last time India toured Down Under for a 5-Test series was in 1991-92, and they have since won back-to-back Test series in Australia. The internal match will be played at the WACA Ground and will be the only preparation before the series begins on November 22.
On the third day of the Irani Cup match, Abhimanyu Easwaran of ROI displayed an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 151 off 212 balls. His innings, which included 12 fours and a six, helped ROI reach a total of 289 for four in their first innings. This was Easwaran's third consecutive first-class century this season and proved to be crucial for his team, as they had lost their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad early on.
Abhimanyu Easwaran, the Rest of India vice-captain, scored a flawless hundred against Mumbai in the Irani Cup, solidifying his position in the race for India's backup Test opener. The seasoned 29-year-old showcased his skills with his 26th First-Class hundred, amid stiff competition from fellow RoI teammates Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan. As selectors gear up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Easwaran's timely reminder of his abilities and consistent performances this season make a strong case for his inclusion in the Test squad. With the India A tour to Australia just around the corner, the race for the third opener's slot is expected to intensify.