BCCI under fire for 'unfair treatment' of Gaikwad ahead of AUS Tests; fans criticise 'Career-altering snub'

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the selection of the 18-member squad for the highly anticipated five-Test series against Australia for the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India, who are determined to maintain their impressive 18-series winning streak at home, will face a tough challenge from the Australian team in their quest to retain the trophy. The series is set to kick off on November 22 in Perth, and cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the thrilling battles that are bound to unfold on the pitch.

Delhi speedster Harshit Rana and Andhra seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy earned their maiden call-up, while Kuldeep Yadav was not in reckoning for a spot in the team as he has been advised long-term rehabilitation for his groin injury. Mohammed Shami, who continues to recover from his ankle injury incurred in the 2023 ODI World Cup, was not picked for the series despite admitting being "pain free" last week.

Among the notable exclusions which angered fans on social media was the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Maharashtra batter, who was even picked as the India A captain for the upcoming tour of Australia, was earlier this month reported to be picked as the backup opener for the Border-Gavaskar series. The cover is because of the possibility of Rohit skipping one of the earlier Test matches due to personal reasons.

However, despite shoring consistency across Duleep, Irani and Ranji Trophy matches in the last two months, he was left out with selectors preferring in-form Bengal man Abhimanyu Easwaran, who scored four centuries in his last four first-class matches across those aforementioned three tournaments.

In 2023, Gaikwad was picked as a travelling reserve for the World Test Championship final, before was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal owing to his personal commitments. Later, he was picked for the tour of West Indies that followed, but did not get an appearance. Gaikwad, who then led India to a gold-medal haul in the Asian Games that summer, was recalled for the tour of South Africa in December, but missed out with Easwaran replacing him owing to an injury.

In the ongoing domestic season, Gaikwad has been in impressive form, scoring 472 runs at 47.2, comprising a century and three fifties.