'All about favoritism' - K Srikkanth lashes out at selectors after Ruturaj Gaikwad's omission from World Cup squad

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad to represent the Men in Blue at next month's T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA on April 30. Since then, experts and fans have discussed and dissected the selections and criticised the board for leaving out some in-form players.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, a former BCCI chief selector himself, lashed out at the current selection committee after Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was left out of the 15-member squad and was not named even among the reserves. The former India opener pointed out Shubman Gill's poor form and also accused the selection committee of 'favouritism'.

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Ruturaj is currently the Orange Cap holder in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He has amassed 509 runs from 10 innings at an average of 63.62 and a strike rate of 146.69. Meanwhile, Gill, who has been named as one of the four reserve players, has only managed 320 runs from 10 IPL 2024 matches at 35.56. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been picked in the 15-man side as a specialist opener apart from captain Rohit Sharma, has also had a dismal IPL 2024 campaign, having scored 249 runs from nine matches at 31.12.

"Shubman Gill is totally out of form, but why he's selected in the team. There's no doubt that Ruturaj Gaikwad deserves a place. He scored more than 500 runs in 17 innings. Also he scored a century against Australia. Shubman Gill is selectors' delight. He gets chance even if he fails. He finds place even if he fails in Test, ODIs and T20s. There's too much of favoritism in selection. The team selection is all about favoritism," Srikkanth said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

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India are placed in Group A in the T20 World Cup 2024 alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, co-hosts USA, Canada, and Ireland. The former champions begin their campaign in the marquee event on June 5 against Ireland in New York.