Ahead of the highly anticipated final of the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL 2023), an interesting development has emerged. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the opening batter for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), is scheduled to tie the knot in the initial week of June.
The CSK team is set to face the defending champions, Gujarat Titans (GT), in the ultimate showdown of the T20 league on May 28 at the magnificent Narendra Modi Stadium.
Gaikwad, who was among the standby players for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final, will no longer be joining the team in their journey to London.
As per media reports, the Mumbai and Rajasthan Royals batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to take Gaikwad’s place.
Gaikwad has personally informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his wedding plans on either June 3 or 4, making it impossible for him to accompany the team to the United Kingdom for the WTC final.
Yashasvi Jaiswal likely to shift focus on red ball practice
BCCI selectors have allegedly approached Yashasvi Jaiswal, urging him to shift his focus to practising with the red ball. This suggests that Jaiswal is likely to be named as the replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad in the upcoming matches.
However, no official announcement has been made by the BCCI regarding this matter. It is anticipated that the board may disclose the finalized changes in the following week.
India squad gears up for WTC 2023 Final
The WTC 2023 Final is scheduled to take place at The Oval in London from June 7 to 11, featuring an intense clash between India and Australia. In preparation for the prestigious event, the Indian team is making its way to the United Kingdom in two separate groups.
The first group consists of players who have concluded their Indian Premier League (IPL) season and have already arrived in the UK. Among the notable names in this squad are Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, and several others.
These players have wasted no time and have commenced their practice sessions to acclimatize to the English conditions.
The second group, comprising players from the Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings, who participated in the IPL, is expected to depart for the UK shortly.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, along with Ishan Kishan, is set to leave for London on May 28. Suryakumar Yadav will join them on May 30, accompanied by Mohammed Shami, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja, who are involved in the IPL final on Sunday.
Also Read: IPL 2023: 3 Mumbai Indians Players Who Played Beyond Expectations
