Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh believes Ruturaj Gaikwad should have been included in India’s squad for the New Zealand ODI series, suggesting that the young batter should have replaced all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Ramesh questioned the need for a fifth seam-bowling option in a home series and argued that Gaikwad’s exclusion sends a puzzling message, especially after his century against South Africa while batting at No. 4.

Ramesh: “Gaikwad should replace Nitish Kumar Reddy”

Speaking about the squad selection, Ramesh said that Reddy’s role in the team is not well defined and that India doesn’t need a fifth seamer for a home series.

“He could’ve been selected in the squad in place of someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy. Why is a fifth seam-bowling option required? Whether or not Reddy will bat or bowl is unclear. When it’s not even clear whether he will feature in the eleven, someone like Gaikwad should’ve been there in the squad,” Ramesh said.

Reddy, a promising young all-rounder, has been included in the 15-member squad but his specific role remains ambiguous. With Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh already in the squad as specialist seamers, Ramesh believes adding Reddy as a fifth seam-bowling option is unnecessary for a home series.

“Even if Shreyas Iyer is fit, Gaikwad was a must”

Ramesh also addressed the possibility that Gaikwad could be called up if Shreyas Iyer is unable to recover from his spleen injury, but argued that irrespective of Iyer’s fitness, the young batter should have been in the original squad.

“India doesn’t need a fifth seam-bowling option in the original squad for a home series. Even if there is an injury in the squad, someone can be called up soon as it is a home series. What they may have thought is if Shreyas Iyer doesn’t clear the fitness test, Ruturaj Gaikwad can slot into the playing eleven. Even if Iyer is fit and plays all three matches, I feel Gaikwad was a must in the squad,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh’s comments reflect growing frustration among fans and experts over Gaikwad’s repeated omissions despite strong performances in domestic cricket and the recent ODI series against South Africa.

Gaikwad’s century against South Africa ignored

Gaikwad recently scored a century while batting at No. 4 in the ODI series against South Africa, showcasing his ability to adapt to different roles in the batting order. Despite this strong performance, he was one of the big exclusions from the New Zealand squad, with the BCCI selection committee opting for Rishabh Pant as the second wicketkeeper-batter instead.

As Ravichandran Ashwin pointed out earlier, the choice came down to a “straight choice” between Gaikwad and Pant, with Pant being preferred primarily because he is a left-hander and offers the dual role of wicketkeeper-batter.

India’s squad for New Zealand ODI series

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal