Cricket

T20 World Cup 2024: KS Srikkanth endorses Ruturaj Gaikwad over Shubman Gill, slams BCCI’s selection bias

May 2, 2024

On Tuesday, April 30th, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) disclosed the squad of 15 players selected to represent Team India in the imminent T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament, set to unfold in June, is slated to span across both the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

Ruturaj Gaikwad‘s stellar displays in the Indian Premier League (IPL) sparked anticipation regarding his selection for India’s World Cup roster. Nonetheless, his omission from the squad caught many by surprise. Reacting to this decision, former Indian skipper KS Srikkanth voiced his belief that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper merits an assured berth in India’s lineup for the T20 World Cup.

KS Srikkanth condemns BCCI for favouritism

Srikkant shared his views on Ruturaj’s exclusion from the World Cup squad, highlighting Gill’s form. He noted Ruturaj’s consistent IPL performance, currently leading run scorer in the 17th season, while Gill stands at 13th place. Gill’s subsequent appointment as a travel reserve for the T20 World Cup led Srikkant to criticize the BCCI for perceived favouritism.

“Shubman Gill is totally out of form, but why is he selected in the team? Shubman Gill is the selectors’ delight. He gets a chance even if he fails. He finds a place even if he fails in Test, ODIs and T20s. There’s too much favouritism in selection. The team selection is all about favouritism,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube Channel.

Meanwhile, Srikkanth advocated for the Gaikwad selection in the T20 World Cup Squad.

“There’s no doubt that Ruturaj Gaikwad deserves a place. He scored more than 500 runs in 17 T20I innings. Also he scored a century against Australia,” he added.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad’s exceptional IPL performances

Ruturaj made his debut for CSK during the IPL 2020 season, featuring in just six matches but leaving a significant impact. Since then, he has participated in 62 matches, accumulating a total of 2306 runs at an impressive strike rate of 138 and an average of 43. In the 2021 season, he clinched the coveted orange cap and currently holds it this season as well, having scored 509 runs in 10 matches.

Moreover, Ruturaj’s prowess extended to the international stage when he made his debut for Team India in 2021. In the 19 T20I matches he has played, he amassed 500 runs at a striking rate of 140 and an average of 36. Notably, he also captained India in the Asian Games, leading the team to victory and securing a gold medal.