Ravichandran Ashwin questions Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from India’s T20 squad

Originally posted on Crictoday | By V.M.Suriya Narayanan | Last updated Nov 6, 2025 8:53 PM ET

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s omission from India’s T20I plans hasn’t gone unnoticed. Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out that the batter, who has played 23 matches, scored 633 runs at 39.56 and a strike rate of 143.53, including a hundred and four fifties, deserves consideration.

The 2025 IPL didn’t quite go Ruturaj Gaikwad’s way, but he has consistently been a top-order run-getter for CSK, crossing 500 runs in three seasons. His last T20I outing for India was against Zimbabwe after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Ashwin noted that Ruturaj Gaikwad possesses every shot in the arsenal, but it remains unclear why he isn’t featuring in India’s T20I setup.

“There’s no need to question Ruturaj Gaikwad’s talent as he can play every shot in the book. The only mystery is why we haven’t seen him on the field since his last T20 series.”

Speaking on the matter, Ashwin said Ruturaj last played for India under a different captain and coach. He added that keeping players informed is crucial, or else they remain in the dark. According to Ashwin, Ruturaj’s steady form in the longer format makes him a strong candidate for a middle-order role in the Test team.

“During his last T20 stint, both the coach and captain were different. The problem is that without proper communication, players like him are often left unaware. I hope he’s being kept in the loop. He’s also scoring heavily in red-ball cricket, and I hope they consider him for a middle-order spot.”

This article first appeared on Crictoday and was syndicated with permission.

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