Sadagoppan Ramesh, a former Indian cricket player, feels that Ruturaj Gaikwad ought to have been selected for the current ODI series against New Zealand instead of Nitish Kumar Reddy. In his final innings for India in the second ODI against South Africa, Gaikwad struck an incredible 105.
But because Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were back, he was left out of the team for the New Zealand series. For the rest of the series, India decided to use batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni in place of Washington Sundar, who was injured in the first ODI.
“Nitish Kumar Reddy ought to have been replaced by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Because Washington Sundar’s injury was the only reason Nitish played, and he was probably not going to play at all. The question of whether he would be fully exploited even if he played was also raised. He bowled just two overs and finished with a twenty, as was to be expected, Ramesh posted on Instagram.
Ramesh thinks that not enough attention has been paid to India’s batting collapses in both of their ODI matches against New Zealand. Despite reaching 234/2 in the first ODI, India fell to 242/5, but KL Rahul saved the innings with an undefeated 29 off 21 balls to ensure victory. In the second ODI, the hosts experienced a similar collapse, falling from 99/1 to 118/4 until Rahul once more stabilised the situation with an undefeated 112 off 92 balls.
“At least now, India could have retained Ruturaj Gaikwad rather than unexpectedly bringing in an Ayush Badoni. Because there was a collapse in the final two games, including the final one, after Kohli was removed. India was only saved twice by KL Rahul. Thus, the extent to which the Indian batting is failing in this series is being ignored,” Ramesh remarked.
India will want to turn things around and win the series 2-1 now that it is headed to a final. The Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore will host the third and final ODI on Sunday, January 18.
Home