WTC Final: Yashasvi Jaiswal replaces Ruturaj Gaikwad as opener in Indian team

Left-handed Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included as an additional player in the Indian squad in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.

Ruturaj, who plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, will play the final against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday, May 27.

Ruturaj is to be married on June 3 and Ruturaj has also informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his wedding function. The right-handed CSK batsman was initially picked by the BCCI selectors as the backup opener for the WTC final, to be held at The Oval from June 7.

A BCCI official told The Indian Express, “Jaiswal will join the Indian team as Ruturaj Gaikwad has informed us that he will not be able to fly due to his marriage. He will be able to join the team after June 5. But coach Rahul Dravid asked the selectors to choose a replacement for him. Hence, Jaiswal will now fly to London soon”.

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The Indian team management has asked Jaiswal to start practicing with the red ball and he will fly to London as soon as his visa is cleared.

In IPL 2023, Jaiswal scored 625 runs in 14 matches for Rajasthan Royals with one century and five fifties, while he averages 77.32 in 15 matches in Ranji Trophy. While he has scored eight centuries in the first class.