Don’t judge Ruturaj Gaikwad for low scores until you make him open: Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has said that the team management must give Ruturaj Gaikwad a chance at the top of the order before judging him on his failures. Gaikwad failed on his return to the Indian team after 16 months, getting dismissed for 8 runs off 14 balls in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.

Gaikwad’s stay at the crease was cut short by a stunning catch from his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate Dewald Brevis. Following his failure, Aakash Chopra criticised the India management for sending him at number four, as Gaikwad is predominantly a top-order batter. He urged the team management to give him a proper run and not to discard him if he fails, as he is primarily accustomed to opening.

“I really don’t understand what is going on. Ruturaj Gaikwad has never batted at No. 4 in ODIs. You sent him to that position, and he got out due to a stunning catch by Dewald Brevis. When he got dismissed, I urged, with folded hands, that please give him three full chances. Even if he fails, don’t discard him immediately. Don’t judge him on these three performances. His main job is to open the batting. Until you can give him that position, you don’t have any right to pass a verdict on his ODI career,” said Chopra on his Youtube Channel.

Chopra also criticised the decision to bench Rishabh Pant and instead play Washington Sundar in the middle order.

“And now Rishabh Pant — when will you play him? He is a pure middle-order batter, performs best at 4 or 5, and yet you don’t pick him even when there is space in the middle order. Instead, you send two players who have never batted at those positions,” he added.

Rishabh Pant last played ODIs for India in August 2024 in Sri Lanka. He was part of the victorious Champions Trophy 2025 campaign but did not get a chance in the playing XI, with KL Rahul keeping wickets. It remains to be seen whether India will make any changes to their playing XI for the second ODI to accommodate Pant in the middle order, after taking a 1-0 lead in the series with a 17-run victory in Ranchi.

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