Ruturaj Gaikwad belongs to a rare category in Indian cricket: a batter who averages consistently above 55 in List A
cricket. His elegance, tempo control and technical clarity have long made him one of the country’s most reliable 50-over
batters. Yet on Sunday (November 30, 2025) in Ranchi, as he returned to India’s blue jersey after 16 months, Gaikwad
experienced something he had never been asked to do before.
In his 87th List A innings, Gaikwad batted at No. 4 for the first time. Until then, he had batted at No. 3 on just five
occasions; every other knock was as an opener. His rise as a List A force has been built almost entirely on opening the
But with Shreyas Iyer still recovering from a lacerated spleen sustained in the final ODI in Australia last month, the
No. 4 slot was vacant. When the squad was announced, the selection committee had labelled Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant and
Dhruv Jurel as primarily contenders for the spot. Nowhere did it indicate that Gaikwad — picked as a reserve opener —
was in that conversation.
What complicated matters further was that if captain Shubman Gill recovered from his neck spasm in time, Gaikwad would
not even have been in Ranchi. He would have continued leading Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Yet there he was — walking in at No. 4 in the den of his IPL mentor Mahendra Singh Dhoni, wearing a role he has never
owned in domestic white-ball cricket. In doing so, the 28-year-old joined a growing list of Indian players being
experimented with in untested roles under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India’s recent assignments have shown an unmistakable trend: frequent shuffling, unclear roles and little continuity.
During the home Test series loss to South Africa — India’s second home Test whitewash in 12 months — two different
batters were asked to bat at No. 3 across the two Tests. B. Sai Sudharsan, who had scored his highest Test score (87)
against West Indies weeks earlier, was suddenly dropped for the first Test. In his place, Washington Sundar — a capable
batter but primarily picked for his all-round skills — was sent to bat at No. 3 on a pitch nightmarish for batters.
As soon as India conceded the series lead, Sudharsan returned to the XI and batted at No. 3 again, while Washington was
This constant reshuffling has left players unsure about how secure they are, or what their defined role is. And when
uncertainty begins affecting performance, teams fall into a familiar danger: players start batting for survival — not
For a country with enormous talent, that is the fastest route to stagnation. Not surprisingly, the public conversation
has shifted as well. In tea stalls or commentary boxes, on fan forums or X timelines — criticism is increasingly
directed not at the players but at the think-tank: Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
This shift is significant. It reflects a belief that the on-field talent isn’t the issue — clarity and conviction in
planning are. And that belief isn’t entirely unfounded.
Traditionally in Indian cricket, the selection system is simple. The captain and coach can recommend players but the
selection committee finalises the squad. The team management then picks the playing XI, the selectors may advise but not
In practice, however, the lines today appear blurred. According to those familiar with recent meetings, the longest
discussion of the Gambhir era occurred during the Champions Trophy squad selection, where a middle-order slot became a
negotiation — not a consensus.
Technically, head coaches are not permitted to attend selection meetings as per Supreme Court-directed reforms. But that
rule appears to be treated today as a formality rather than a boundary.
Gambhir and Agarkar now function — not unofficially, but effectively —as two wheels of the same chariot. If their
alignment holds, the structure moves smoothly. If either wheel shifts direction even slightly, the entire unit — be it
Shubman Gill, K. L. Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav or anyone else that’s reining the horse — risks wobbling.
Gaikwad walking in at No. 4 is not a standalone case. It is symbolic of a deeper concern: lack of role stability. India
has often struggled with role clarity between formats. Now, post-2023 transition, the uncertainty appears heightened.
Decisions feel experimental rather than strategic, reactive rather than progressive.
If Gaikwad — a proven opener — is unsure whether he will remain one or become a floating batter, how do Pant, Tilak and
Jurel interpret their standing when benched? If a hierarchy or role framework exists, it is neither visible nor
In elite sport, ambiguity slows growth.
India stands at a crucial transition juncture. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli— the generational pillars — have stepped
away from T20Is last year and Test cricket earlier in 2025. Their absence has created space — not just for new talent
Handled carefully, this could become a golden inflexion point — like Australia post-Ponting or England post-Cook.
Handled chaotically, it risks becoming another prolonged rebuilding chapter.
Clarity required to thrive
Despite the setbacks, India still remains among the strongest cricketing nations across formats. A T20 World Cup title
defence awaits next year. An ODI World Cup challenge follows the year after. The ongoing World Test Championship offers
an opportunity to get the team’s act in place ahead of the next Test cycle beginning in 2027.
For all three, one requirement stands above selection, talent or system: clarity. Clarity in role definition, in
selection philosophy, in player communication and in tactical consistency. Without it, promising players become
passengers, squad depth turns to indecision, and momentum becomes memory.
If Gambhir and Agarkar align with each other — and communicate that alignment clearly to the team — the Indian cricket
system remains strong enough to thrive. If not, Sunday’s scene in Ranchi will stop being an exception and become the
norm. A talented cricketer performing well, still unsure of his role — not because the system lacks players, but because
For now, Ruturaj Gaikwad waits — not just for runs, but for clarity. And in many ways, so does Indian cricket.