Twitter Reactions: Netizens lash out at selectors after Ruturaj Gaikwad's T20I snub

India announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka on Thursday, July 18. The Men in Blue will be playing three T20Is and as many ODIs in the Island Nation.

After emerging victorious in the T20 World Cup last month, India fielded an inexperienced side on their recent five-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe. Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, the Asian giants bagged a 4-1 series win. Ruturaj Gaikwad was one of the star performers on the tour, as he amassed 133 runs in three innings at an average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 158.33. He was India's third-highest run-getter on the tour after Shubman and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, he was surprisingly dropped from the squad for the fifth T20I.

The right-handed batter received another major setback as he couldn't find a place in India's 15-man T20I squad for the Sri Lanka tour. However, Riyan Parag, who made his international debut in Zimbabwe, retained his place with scores of 2 and 22 from the two innings he played.

Also Read: India announces T20I and ODI squads for Sri Lanka tour, Suryakumar Yadav named new T20I captain

Ruturaj had been prolific in his last seven T20I innings, averaging an awe-inspiring 71.20 at an impressive strike rate of 158.70. However, that didn't prove to be enough for him to seal a spot in India's new-look side.

Apart from Ruturaj, another player who can consider himself unlucky is Mukesh Kumar. The Bengal pacer emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the Zimbabwe series, picking eight wickets in just three games. However, he hasn't found a place in either of the sides on the Sri Lanka tour. Abhishek Sharma also scored a blistering century in the second T20I against Zimbabwe but has failed to hold onto his spot.

All three T20Is will be played at the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele on July 27, 28, and 30, respectively. After the completion of the T20I series, the two teams will head to Colombo as the three ODIs will be played at the historic R Premadasa Stadium on August, 2, 4, and 7, respectively.

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