Chopra Explains Why Gaikwad Was Passed Over as Kohli’s Replacement

Aakash Chopra has offered his view on why Ruturaj Gaikwad was not called up to replace the injured Virat Kohli for India’s ODI series against Afghanistan. The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, went with Yashasvi Jaiswal instead, and Chopra believes the decision was justified.

Middle order, not opener

Chopra’s central argument is that Gaikwad currently fits India’s plans as a middle-order batter rather than an opener. He is gaining experience with India A as vice-captain and recently made a century at No. 4 in the tri-series against Sri Lanka A. Chopra said that even if Gaikwad had joined the senior squad, he would probably not have made the XI.

India’s top order is largely settled, he explained, and middle-order places are scarce. Jaiswal could open if Rohit Sharma were unavailable, whereas Gaikwad’s preferred role is lower down, which is where he is being assessed.

Practical considerations

Chopra also noted that Jaiswal was already in India’s set-up after the one-off Test against Afghanistan, so keeping him with the senior team made logistical and strategic sense.

He added that regular games for India A would help Gaikwad more than sitting on the bench with the national side, and that the right-hander should keep building his case through consistent performances.

A century to answer a poor IPL

After a disappointing IPL campaign, Gaikwad responded with a fine hundred for India A against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on June 8, strengthening his credentials for future selection.