T20 World Cup 2024: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill neglected as Aakash Chopra names this players as India's opener
Published - 24 Apr 2024, 12:11 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:10 AM
Former India batter turned expert analyst Aakash Chopra wants more eyeballs on Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who became the first CSK skipper last night to score a century. Before him, not even MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, or Ravindra Jadeja were able to achieve this feat.
For this very reason, Chopra claimed that the right-hand batter should be involved in being included in the Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, later this June.
It was very important from the bat of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has experienced a very tough and inconsistent IPL 2024 season. Gaikwad has scored half-centuries in Chennai's previous matches but he also had to deal with poor form in certain matches.
In his first 4 matches, the new CSK captain was able to reach the 40-run mark only once, otherwise, he had scores of 15, 1, and 26 against Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored his first half-century during Chennai's 7-wicket home win against Kolkata Knight Riders, wherein he had remained 67* off 57 while chasing a target of 138.
Gaikwad then carried on his form during Chennai's next game against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium where he amassed 69 off 40 in the 1st innings. In CSK's first meeting with LSG this season, Gaikwad had scored just 17 runs but last night he clapped back at his critics with a knock of 108* off 60 balls.
Aakash Chopra wants people to talk about Ruturaj Gaikwad
While speaking on his latest YouTube video on the LSG vs CSK post-match, Aakash Chopra asked why is no one talking about the innings that Ruturaj Gaikwad played.
Chopra also asked if he would be picked in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies or not. The former opening batsman also highlighted the century that he struck against Australia during India's 5-match T20I series in a home series right after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
"When Chennai got to bat first, Ruturaj scored a century. The question is whether he should be taken for the T20 World Cup. Think about it. No one is talking about him but they should. Why not? He recently scored a century against Australia and has also scored a century here. In fact, he is the first Chennai captain to score a hundred." - Chopra said on his latest YT video.
Chopra hails Gaikwad for his old-school batting approach
Aakash Chopra then went on to hail Ruturaj Gaikwad for the way he approached his innings last night. Chopra had special praise for Gaikwad's old-school batting approach, playing textbook cricketing shots and playing the ball to its merit, something that Chopra believes will never go out of fashion.
"He was absolutely outstanding. Some things in cricket haven't changed for 150 years. If you can drive well and your technique is good, playing the ball on its merit will never go out of fashion. Fashions will keep changing but this is retro. This will always be there and forever." - Aakash Chopra concluded.