'A noticeable absentee is Ruturaj Gaikwad' - Aakash Chopra expresses disappointment over CSK opener's exclusion from T20I squad

Former Indian cricketer and ace commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed his disappointment with the squad selected by the BCCI for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies. Chopra, who recently shared his views on the team selection, was particularly unhappy with the exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad despite his impressive performance in the IPL 2023. 

Aakash Chopra voiced his opinion on the team's selection while also acknowledging the impressive performances of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in the IPL 2023. Chopra remained optimistic about the selected players' ability to excel in the upcoming series against West Indies.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his opinion, saying, "When the selection happens, the discussion is on who is missing rather than who all are there. You have picked three openers - Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. A noticeable absentee is Ruturaj Gaikwad. You have to feel for him. You expected him to be there but everyone cannot come."

He also pointed out that the selectors went ahead with three openers, including Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. While Chopra said that Gaikwad could have been a part, he also acknowledged the fact that everyone can not make it to the squad. Chopra further highlighted the selection of Ishan Kishan over Gaikwad as a debatable decision. 

"There can be a discussion about the decision to pick Kishan, as he hasn't performed exceptionally well recently in T20Is and the IPL 2023 also wasn't that good for him, was okay-okay and Ruturaj had a very good one," he remarked.

Chopra speculated that the selectors might have considered continuity in mind as not only in the last 12 months but Kishan had previously played in the Dubai T20 World Cup also, even opening in place of Rohit Sharma in one match. 

Aakash Chopra praised the young Yashaswi Jaiswal saying, ‘The flavor of the month’

Turning his attention to another opener in the squad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Chopra praised his exceptional batting prowess during the IPL 2023. Jaiswal emerged as the fifth-highest run-scorer in the tournament, accumulating 625 runs in 14 innings at an average of 48.08 and a strike rate of 163.61. 

"Yashasvi Jaiswal now is the flavor of the month. When he had an IPL season like that, we knew that he is going to do amazing things. He is already part of India's Test squad," Chopra added.

Chopra concluded by suggesting that either Jaiswal or Ishan would likely partner with Shubman Gill as the opening batter. Gill, who was the Orange Cap winner in IPL 2023, amassed a remarkable 890 runs in 17 innings at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80.

Chopra expressed his desire to see Gill in the playing 11, stating, "You will see either Ishan Kishan or Yashasvi, one of the two left-handers, opening alongside Shubman Gill. The sort of IPL he had, you want to keep him."