India to include Ruturaj Gaikwad in Test squad?

• Chopra suggests Gaikwad for Tests due to team imbalance, left-handed heavy XI.
• Gill's injury clouds participation, raising selection questions for Guwahati Test.
• Gaikwad's current form & middle order experience present a compelling case.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested that India management should consider bringing in Ruturaj Gaikwad in the current Test squad. Chopra pointed

out that the two available bench options, Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, are both left-handers, which may not be ideal given the team’s current balance.

India fielded six left-handed batters in their playing XI for the first Test, a decision that played straight into the hands of South Africa’s off-spinner Simon Harmer. The experienced tweaker exploited the match-up advantage perfectly, claiming eight wickets across the Test. Adding to India’s concerns, captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury during the Kolkata Test. His participation in the upcoming match in Guwahati remains uncertain, further complicating India’s selection choices.

“Should Ruturaj Gaikwad be selected in the Test team? You might be wondering how he can be selected as the team is already selected, and no one has gone out. There is still no clarity on Shubman Gill’s participation. He has been discharged from the hospital, but there is still a question mark over his participation,” said Chopra as quoted by The Indian Express.

“Just in case he doesn’t become available, you will have to play someone. You have Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal sitting outside – two more left-handers. You have six left-handers in the XI at the moment. Do you want to go with seven left-handers? You want to change that, maybe,” he added.

Chopra highlighted that Gaikwad has been in outstanding form, particularly in the ongoing India A series against South Africa A. In the first two ODIs of the three-match series, Gaikwad has already registered a century and a half-century, helping the Men in Blue take a 2-0 lead. Chopra also emphasised that Gaikwad has been consistently impressive across formats, including the Ranji Trophy, where he has dominated with the bat.

“He is in excellent form. He is scoring runs for India A in white-ball cricket. Don’t know why he has not played in the days’ format when the India A team plays, but wherever he is playing, whether it’s the Ranji Trophy or the Duleep Trophy, he has been scoring the runs,” said Chopra.

“He even bats in the middle order. He looks technically compact. It seems like he has been made to play Tests, and this is the same ground where he struck a T20I century vs Australia. So, I am building a case for him that if there is any chance of Shubman Gill not playing, paradrop and bring him in,” he added.