NEW DELHI – The exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad from India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand (starting January 11, 2026) has ignited a fierce debate regarding the selection committee’s “regional bias” and lack of continuity.
Despite smashing a maiden century (105 off 83 balls) in his last ODI against South Africa in Raipur just last month, the Maharashtra captain was dropped to accommodate the returning Shreyas Iyer.
Uthappa’s “Survival Mode” Critique
Former India batter Robin Uthappa voiced his frustration on his YouTube channel, highlighting the immense mental toll on players who are constantly fighting to stay relevant despite performing.
“It’s very hard to process… One of the challenges with Indian cricket is that you’re constantly operating on survival mode. To switch from that mindset takes an immense amount of resilience.” — Robin Uthappa
Uthappa also pointed toward an alleged regional hurdle, suggesting that players from outside the “Big Three” states face a steeper climb to the national team.
- The Regional Gap: Uthappa claimed that players not hailing from Mumbai, Delhi, or Punjab often have to “keep pushing and fighting” twice as hard to secure a long-term spot.
- The “Silver Lining”: He urged Gaikwad to remain a “silver linings guy” and maintain positive self-talk to survive the “hectic” nature of Indian selection cycles.
The Selection Controversy: Iyer vs. Gaikwad
The core of the issue lies in the return of Shreyas Iyer, who has been named Vice-Captain for the series despite being out of action since October 2025 due to a severe spleen injury sustained in Australia.
| Player | Recent ODI Form | Current Status |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 105 (83) vs SA (Dec 2025) | Dropped from the 15-man squad. |
| Shreyas Iyer | 82 (53) in Vijay Hazare Trophy | Included (Subject to fitness clearance). |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder / Debutant prospect | Included (Preferred as an utility option). |
Selection Oversight? Critics, including former selector Kris Srikkanth, argued that even if Iyer returned, Gaikwad deserved a spot in the 15-man squad over the likes of uncapped all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Srikkanth quipped that Gaikwad might need to “start keeping wickets like Dhoni” to finally get a permanent look-in.
India’s ODI Squad for New Zealand (Jan 2026)
The squad features the return of seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with Shubman Gill continuing as the ODI captain.
- Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna.