Gautam Gambhir was criticized for mishandling Ruturaj Gaikwad’s comeback

A new debate has erupted in Indian cricket following Ruturaj Gaikwad’s disappointing return to the international arena. Playing his first ODI in 16 months, Ruturaj Gaikwad could manage only 8 runs off 14 balls in the ongoing three-match ODI series opener against South Africa in Ranchi.

Gaikwad’s innings came to an end when his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate and South African batsman Dewald Brevis took a spectacular catch in Ranchi. However, former cricketer and popular commentator Aakash Chopra blamed the Indian team management for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s flop comeback.

Aakash Chopra questions India’s tactics after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s comeback on the flop

Chopra questioned the decision-making behind Gaikwad’s batting position. Instead of opening, which is the role he has mastered and built his reputation on, Gaikwad was surprisingly pushed to fourth, where he batted just twice in his career and failed to make any impact.

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The story was the same in Ranchi. After the immense trolling and criticism, Chopra condemned the critics for judging Gaikwad based on a failure that occurred while he was batting out of position.

Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, “I really don’t understand what is going on. Ruturaj Gaikwad has never batted at number 4 in ODIs. You sent him to that position and he got out because of a stunning catch from Dewald Brevis. When he was dismissed, I insisted with folded hands that they please give him three full chances. Even if he fails, don’t throw him out immediately.”

Amid criticism, Aakash Chopra insists on fair opportunities for Ruturaj Gaikwad

He emphasized that the right-handed batsman needs a fair run at the top of the order before anyone decides his future in ODIs. The cricket pundit believes that unless Gaikwad is consistently backed in his natural role, there is no point in reviewing his performance.

Chopra added: “Don’t judge him based on these three performances. His main job is to open the batting. Until you can give him that position, you have no right to pass judgment on his ODI career.”

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It will be interesting to see if Ruturaj Gaikwad gets an opportunity in the remainder of the ODI series against South Africa. Notably, the second ODI will be played on Wednesday, December 3 in Raipur, followed by the third and final ODI on December 6 in Visakhapatnam.

Aakash Chopra once again questions India’s shock call to bench Rishabh Pant

Moreover, Chopra also raised questions about India’s decision to leave Rishabh Pant out of the playing XI for the first ODI against South Africa. Despite being one of India’s most reliable middle-order batsmen, performing best at No. 4 and No. 5, Pant once again found himself on the bench in Ranchi. India instead brought in Washington Sundar, and he too failed to deliver.

Chopra concluded by saying, “And now Rishabh Pant, when are you going to play him? He is a pure middle-order batsman, performs best at 4 or 5, and yet you don’t pick him even when there is space in the middle order. Instead, you send two players who have never batted in those positions.”

Notably, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman last played an ODI in August 2024 during the Sri Lanka tour. Although Pant was part of India’s victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad, he never got a match in that tournament as KL Rahul played as a wicketkeeper-batsman all the time.