The Indian team has been announced for the ODI series against New Zealand. Ashwin is quite surprised after the team announcement. Ashwin spoke on his YouTube channel after the team announcement and reacted to Ruturaj Gaikwad not being included in the team. Ashwin admitted that Rishabh Pant could have replaced Gaikwad in the team.

Ashwin arise question on the team selection

Former Indian spinner Ashwin said, “I have only one issue, who will take care of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s mindset? His numbers are good in ODIs and T20s. His batting in Vijay Hazare was excellent. He is batting at a different level. And he doesn’t get a chance in T20s either.”

Ashwin further said, “And he got a chance in white ball cricket, but he did not score many runs there, but after 7-8 innings he scored a century. That century too while batting at number 4. Let me tell you that Gaikwad is a top order batsman. Even after this he bats at number 4 or 5, he has also scored a century in Vijay Hazare.”

The former Indian spinner further said, “The specialty of Ruturaj Gaikwad is that he scores runs even against spin, he has the ability to take the innings forward. His running between the wickets is also good. He has the ability to take the match close, he is amazing.”

Ashwin further said, “You can also play him as a middle order batsman. Right now the competition in the team is only between Rishabh Pant and Ruturaj. See, Pant got a place in the team because he is a left-handed batsman, otherwise I think if this factor was not there then Gaikwad would have got the place.”

India squad for the ODI series against New Zealand:

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain; subject to fitness clearance), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.