Gaikwad ruled out of New Zealand T20Is: Report

Ruturaj Gaikwad has endured a rather tough start to his Indian career, with just 135 runs across eight T20I innings. 

If not for the lack of form, the right-hander has been on the wrong side of injury, with a wrist injury earlier ruling him out of last year’s T20I against Sri Lanka. The right-hander also tested positive for COVID-19 during India’s home ODI series against West Indies.

Yet again, it is the wrist pain that has come haunting for the right-hander, who is ruled out of the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, Cricbuzz reported on Thursday (January 26). Gaikwad will now go back to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for subsequent rehabilitation.

With India having the likes of Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Prithvi Shaw in the squad, it is unlikely that they will seek a replacement for the Chennai Super Kings’ star. 

The first T20I will be played in Ranchi on Friday (January 27), while the next two will be played in Lucknow (Sunday) and Ahmedabad (Wednesday).