With Gaikwad, the selectors took a leap of faith. To include him in the team, they skipped Sarfaraz Khan, a batsman with an average of 79.64 in first-class cricket. He was chosen to replace Easwaran, who had performed steadily in the A Tours and Ranji Trophy, and had scored four centuries in consecutive centuries in first-class cricket earlier in the year. To attract Gaikwad, the selectors also dropped a veteran like Cheteshwar Pujara, who has 102 Tests to his credit.

Gaikwad’s selection is a big test of the selectors’ faith that white-ball success in the IPL can be replicated in tests based on the batsman’s temperament. The success of that philosophy has implications for more than just Gaikwad’s selection.

Selection is not always just about numbers. Often, selectors bet on talent they think has the potential to play well. That’s how MC Dhoni made the team, despite his unconventionalism. There’s nothing unconventional about Gaikwad’s case, but in 28 first-grade games, he hasn’t made a strong case for his inclusion on the team ahead of his peers. His average in first-class cricket is only 42.19, which isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. The reason why he ended up in the Test team is because the selectors, after watching his performances in the IPL, decided that he could replicate his temperament against high quality pacers in the long format and could withstand prolonged pressure.

In addition to usingand the white ball is irrelevant. It’s the same thing, former chairman of the selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar told The Indian Express when asked if the challenge made sense. A good player will adapt to all formats. We need to see how he performs in Test cricket. And I don’t understand this queue. Every player is in line, Vengsarkar added.

While Gaikwad may not have had a pivotal season in the Ranji Trophy, those who worked with him closely always saw him as a player who should play at the highest level on a regular basis. Before the start of the last IPL season, Chennai Super Kings coach Mike Hussey spoke to us about how he sees echoes of himself in the way Gaikwad runs his game, sticking to the basics and not complicating anything.

The great thing about Ruturage is that he understands his game perfectly. He definitely has the skills. He definitely has the mental capacity. He definitely has the understanding of his game to succeed at the next level. I have no doubt about that. If he gets that opportunity, he’ll show the world how good he is. I like his game and the way he handles it…he’s confident, Hussey said.

Proactive batting

Also, it’s important to know why, despite having players like Hanuma Vihari, Sarfaraz, Easwaran who can be in the chair for long stretches and score big balls, there is an eruptionIn the past, India is now beginning to add another dimension, where they recognize the need for a more active composition.

Despite his modest results in red-ball cricket, Gaikwad has been a player of interest for some time, and Ravi Shastri even wanted to invite him on a tour of England in 2022. But like his peers, Gaikwad grew up in the white-ball era, where batsmen prefer to play ball more often. Even though he was picked, there are still doubts about whether he can handle the moving ball and anchor if the situation calls for it. It’s a question no one has an answer to right now, and we’ll only find out in time.

I have no doubt that Ruturage can play at the international level. He’s definitely good enough to be there, and I’d like to see him get a good start. International cricket is tough. It might take him a little while to settle in at that level. But I have no doubt he can succeed at that level, Hussey said.