Mumbai: Ruturaj Gaikwad walked back into first-class cricket the way top batters usually do calm hands, clean lines, and a hundred that looked inevitable long before he reached it. The Duleep Trophy knock arrived after a lengthy lay-off, the timing crisp enough to make even rust sound musical. And yet, when the latest India A squad dropped, his name didn’t.
That one detail was enough to set on fire. “Not the first time we’ve seen a squad without Rutu… heads up champ,” wrote one user, insisting class can’t be held down for long. Another post, half-exasperation, half-meme, said Gaikwad “crushed it” in domestic red-ball cricket and still couldn’t find a place “a major flex in the worst way for the lobby,” the line went. Several fans argued the snub felt political, some even dragged franchise loyalties into the debate, while others simply pleaded: pick the man who’s scoring runs.
Strip the noise, and there’s still a real cricket question here. How does a batter who looks this good, this soon, not get a look-in?
From those who watched the Duleep innings closely, the theme was control. After tea, Gaikwad shifted gears straight drives hummed, the square cut arrived on cue, and a late upper-cut sailed away like a signature. He looked unhurried against pace, busy without fuss against spin, and when the bowlers tried around-the-wicket lines, he opened the off side like a well-worn book. It wasn’t slog; it was shape.
So what might the selectors be weighing?
- Workload & return-to-play: Coming off a gap, sometimes a player is eased through domestic rounds to stack minutes and volume before a higher-intensity ‘A’ tour.
- Squad balance: If the current India A itinerary skews toward testing specific roles (e.g., left-right mix, a reserve keeper-opener, or players who’ve been in the pathway camp), a form player can still miss out briefly.
- Bench-order churn: Pathway groups often rotate across two or three series; a name left out now can be first in for the next window if form sustains.
None of that comforts fans today, of course. To them, Gaikwad’s comeback ton felt like a ready-now statement. One post summed it up politely: If runs don’t move the door, what does? That’s the heartbeat of the outrage an old Indian cricket argument wearing a new social-media jersey.
What the numbers say
The exact tallies will stack up across the Duleep block, but the cues are plain: high-quality hundred on return; control outside off; acceleration without risk once set. For a player who has already proven white-ball reliability and slip-fielding calm, the red-ball rhythm here mattered. It read like a reminder that his method late hands, straight face, tempo when needed travels across formats.
What comes next
Short answer: more runs. If his body holds and the groove stays, the selectors’ calculation can change very quickly. India A selections are notoriously fluid; one vacant slot, one injury, one reshuffle and the door is ajar. And then there is the longer arc fans are already dreaming about IPL 2026 chatter, the inevitable “royal comeback” memes, and that imagined lap with the trophy. All of it is noise until the next scoreboard lines up behind the narrative. But noise travels, and selectors do listen to consistency.
For now, Gaikwad owns the only lever any batter truly controls: time at the crease. The rest balance sheets, pecking orders, travel logistics sits outside his grip. He’s just put a fine hundred on the board. The neatest reply to a snub is to stack another.
Social pulse (paraphrased, cleaned for news use)
- Fans call the omission “harsh, not final”, urging patience and a bigger comeback.
- Several posts allege bias/politics; those remain opinions by users, not established facts.
- Many point to his recent hundred as proof of match-readiness; some ask for transparency on selection criteria.
Editor’s note: This report compiles public posts from X alongside match observations. Allegations mentioned above are social-media opinions, not verified claims.
Quick FAQs
Q. Did Ruturaj Gaikwad score a hundred on return?
Yes he marked his red-ball comeback with a composed Duleep Trophy century, showcasing control and acceleration once set.
Q. Why might a form player miss India A?
Pathway rotations, specific role tests, workload management after a lay-off, and existing camp groups can delay a call-up briefly.
Q. Does this end his chances?
No. India A squads change often; sustained runs typically force selection.