'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
India C skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has walked off the field after facing just two deliveries in the ongoing 2024 Duleep Trophy clash against India B in Anantapur. The opening batter dispatched Mukesh Kumar for a boundary off the first delivery, but sustained a blow that forced him to retire hurt.
There is a lack of clarity regarding what led to Gaikwad's departure from the field, due to the limited coverage of the match. The skipper was present at the toss earlier, which he lost to Abhimanyu Easwaran and was put into bat first.
Following Gaiwkad's sudden walk back to the pavilion, Rajat Patidar had to come into bat inside the first over itself. As of writing, India C are placed at 40-0 after 10 overs, with Sai Sudharsan unbeaten on 21 at the other end.
It remains to be seen whether Gaikwad will return to bat in the innings, with doubts lingering over his availability for the remainder of the contest as well. There is also no official update regarding the nature or the extent of the injury.
The skipper had returned scores of 5 and 46 in India C's four-wicket win over India D last week. He was not named in Team India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The selectors have entrusted the in-form pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma to open the innings rather than mix things up.
Gaikwad had sustained a finger injury during the South Africa tour in late 2023
The opening batter had received his maiden red-ball call-up for the South Africa Tests, but suffered a finger injury while fielding during the preceding ODI series. Fellow opening batter Abhimanyu Easwaran was named as his replacement for the two-match affair.
Gaikwad was out of action till February, and made his return for Maharashtra in the 2024 Ranji Trophy, scoring a sublime 96 against Services. He eventually went on to lead the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, and played in the T20I series against Zimbabwe after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
