'Priorities are clear' - Fans react as Ruturaj Gaikwad set to miss Test Championship Final due to wedding; Yashasvi Jaiswal picked as stand-by opener

Ruturaj Gaikwad & Yashasvi Jaiswal (Source: Twitter)

Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to miss the Test Championship final due to his wedding and will be replaced by the in-form youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal as the standby opener. According to reports, Gaikwad will tie the knot in early June and will not be able to join the team before June 5. Jaiswal, therefore, has been selected by the Indian Cricket Board as his replacement in reserve and will soon fly to the UK to join the rest of the team.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener was one of three standby players in India's Ultimate Test squad, serving as a backup option to openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Suryakumar Yadav and Mukesh Kumar are the other two reserve players who will fly to London ahead of the mega clash against Australia, which begins on June 7 at the Oval.

“He (Jaiswal) will be joining the Indian team as Gaikwad has informed us that he won’t be able to fly due to his marriage. He would be able to join the team post-June 5. (But) Coach Rahul Dravid took a call, asking the selectors to pick a replacement. So, Jaiswal will now fly to London soon,” an Indian Cricket Board official told The Indian Express.

Jaiswal vs Gaikwad in IPL 2023

Jaiswal had a dream season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, scoring 625 runs in just 14 matches at an average of 48.08 and a strike rate of 163.61. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener also smashed five half-centuries and 1 century respectively and played a major role in helping his team finish fifth in the points table.

Gaikwad, on the other hand, also had a great season with the bat, scoring 564 runs at an average of 43.38 from 15 games and a strike rate of over 146. The Maharashtra cricketer will now aim to help his team win their fifth IPL trophy as they face Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final on Sunday, May 28.

The first batch of Team India, including Head Coach Rahul Dravid and former Indian captain Virat Kohli, are already in London and has begun their training. Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Jaydev Unadkat are also in the camp after their franchises failed to qualify for the IPL 2023 playoffs.

India's updated squad for Test Championship Final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat

Standby Players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Mukesh Kumar

Here's how fans reacted to the report:

Again proved tukraj only wants to play ipl

— Abhinand achuzz (@ravisha47243966) May 27, 2023

Guy treating his wedding as priority than WTC, the heights of BCCI.

— Sharon Solomon (@BSharan_6) May 27, 2023

Priorities are clear

— Satya (@DharmaSatyam9) May 28, 2023

Seriously? Gaikward will let go of a chance to play the world test series finals for getting married.

— ShaktiShaali (@Samster1216) May 27, 2023

Marriage above national duties! That's why he should not be selected for india ever!

— Gurasis! (@Gurasis_vk973) May 27, 2023

Abey 1 match k liye kitne standby rakhoge re bc😅😅😅

— Dr Sourav Gupta (@Sggenios7) May 27, 2023

Best decision by BCCI
Yashasvi is in good form 💯💯

— PKMKS (@AshokDanChara13) May 28, 2023

Whole domestic #ranajitropy performance of #sarfarazkhan and #pruthvishaw has been put into dustbin.. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

— Sri (@Nameis_Sri) May 27, 2023

Everyone saying he should be treating national duties should understand, there is 0 chance that he will get to play in the final 😭 😂

— Vishesh (@Vishesh1003) May 27, 2023

Shaadi ek haftay baad kar leta kya is ko WTC ki dates nahi maloom thi lol

— Stiffmeister (@chico91617929) May 27, 2023