Former India opener Robin Uthappa believes Ruturaj Gaikwad must have faced a significant mental strain after being left out of India’s 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The cricketer-turned-commentator feels that Indian cricket is currently functioning in “survival mode,” pointing out that Gaikwad lost his spot despite scoring his maiden ODI century (105 off 83 balls) in his previous match against South Africa.
Uthappa emphasized that in such situations, players need to engage in positive self-talk to cope and encouraged Gaikwad to maintain strong performances in domestic cricket. Gaikwad missed out on the squad as vice-captain Shreyas Iyer returned following recovery from an injury he suffered during India’s ODI series in Australia, which had also caused him to miss the subsequent series against South Africa.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 40-year-old said:
“Buddy, it’s very hard to process. You have to make it make sense, right? It takes a toll, and you need to almost kind of find silver linings to kind of lean back on. In these circumstances, it’s not the easiest thing to do. It’s hectic, and you’ve to find a way to see silver linings.”
“One of the challenges with Indian cricket is that you’re constantly operating on survival mode. And to switch from that mindset, it takes immense amount of resilience, immense amount of self-talk and positive self-talk, and you’ve to be able to be a silver linings guy.”
“If You’re Not from Mumbai, Delhi, Or Punjab, You Have To Keep Fighting”- Uthappa
Robin Uthappa also noted that players from outside Mumbai, Delhi, or Punjab often have to repeatedly prove their worth. He added:
“And you’ve to find a way to keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting, especially if you don’t come from one of three big states in India, which is Mumbai, Delhi, and Punjab. If you’re not from one of those states, then you’ve to keep pushing yourself, pushing yourself.”
https://www.youtube.com/live/WDg4u0E69_Y?si=NUPv3_OnTdosGYHT
In total, Gaikwad has scored 4,926 runs in 98 List-A matches at an impressive average of 57.27, featuring 19 centuries and an equal number of half-centuries.
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