India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) sensation Ruturaj Gaikwad has pulled out of his maiden county cricket assignment with Yorkshire, citing personal reasons. The right-hander was due to debut at North Marine Road against Surrey on July 22 and stay with the side through the rest of the English domestic season.
Yorkshire Left Bitter by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Sudden Withdrawal
Yorkshire’s coach, Anthony McGrath, also verified the news, and he was disappointed to learn that Gaikwad would be missing out on his possible debut just a few days away.
“Unluckily, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s not coming now due to personal reasons. We won’t have him for Scarborough or the rest of the season,” added McGrath. “It’s disappointing. I can’t reveal the reasons, but we hope everything is alright with him.”
Yorkshire Scrambling for a Replacement
With just a few days to go before the Surrey match, Yorkshire is now racing against time to obtain a good replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad.
“We’re acting in the background, trying to see what we can do. But with only two or three days remaining, it’s difficult. Time constraints are a big problem,” McGrath said.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Still to Return Post-Injury
It would have been Gaikwad’s return to first-class cricket after sitting out IPL 2025 due to injury. His place was taken by Ayush Mhatre during the IPL season, while MS Dhoni came back as captain for CSK.
Dom Bess and Jonny Bairstow updates
Meanwhile, in other Yorkshire news, both Dom Bess and Jonny Bairstow sat out the Vitality Blast match against Leicestershire. McGrath reported the updates:
Dom Bess: “He had a slight niggle from the Roses game, and we gave him a precautionary rest.”
Jonny Bairstow: “His partner is having a baby any day now, so he’s on standby. We wish him and his family well.”
The pullout of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the Yorkshire county campaign is a disappointment for the team and enthusiasts looking to witness the Indian opener in action. Although the reasons are confidential, attention is now on whether Yorkshire will have a last-minute replacement for their crucial match against Surrey.
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