Indian Cricketer Backs Out Ahead of County Championship Debut
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad will no longer be joining Yorkshire for the upcoming County Championship and the Domestic One-Day Cup. The 28-year-old was expected to make his Yorkshire debut against Surrey on July 22, followed by participation in the One-Day Cup starting August 5. However, Gaikwad has withdrawn from the 2025 season due to personal reasons, as confirmed by the Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
In an official statement, the club said, “The Yorkshire County Cricket Club can confirm that Ruturaj Gaikwad will no longer be joining the Club for the 2025 season due to personal reasons.”
Yorkshire Coach Expresses Support
Yorkshire head coach Anthony McGrath expressed his disappointment over Gaikwad’s absence but extended his support, hoping that everything is fine on the player’s end.
“Unfortunately Gaikwad’s not coming now for personal reasons,” said McGrath. “We’re not going to have him for Scarborough or for the rest of the season. So that’s disappointing. I can’t tell you anything about the reasons why, but we hope that everything’s ok.”
Gaikwad has not played any professional cricket since April 2025. He was forced to exit the IPL season midway after suffering an elbow injury, which ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament.
While fans were eager to see him in English domestic cricket, his well-being remains the top priority. There’s no word yet on whether Yorkshire will announce a replacement for the remainder of the season.