By Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has withdrawn from his county cricket stint with Yorkshire due to personal reasons, dealing a significant blow to the club’s plans for the remainder of the season. Gaikwad was scheduled to join the squad ahead of their key clash against defending champions Surrey and feature in both the County Championship and the One-Day Cup.
The 28-year-old’s withdrawal comes just days before his expected debut in English domestic cricket. Yorkshire, currently placed 8th in the Championship standings, were relying on Gaikwad to bring solidity to their top order during a crucial phase of the season.
Yorkshire Left Scrambling for a Replacement
Head coach Anthony McGrath confirmed the news and expressed disappointment over the sudden change.
Unfortunately Gaikwad’s not coming now for personal reasons,” McGrath said. “We’re not going to have him for Scarborough or for the rest of the season. So that’s disappointing.
The coach emphasized that while the exact cause remains undisclosed, the club hopes everything is well with Gaikwad.
We hope that everything’s ok. We’ve literally just found out. We’re working behind the scenes on what we can do.
With just days left before their upcoming fixture, Yorkshire are racing against the clock to sign a possible replacement. However, the time constraints are likely to make it challenging.
Gaikwad’s Fitness and Absence from Action
Ruturaj Gaikwad has not played competitive cricket for over three months. His absence began after sustaining an elbow injury during the IPL 2025 season, which ruled him out of the tournament midway. Although he later recovered and was included in the India A squad for the red-ball series in England, he didn’t get a chance to play.
This county season would have marked Gaikwad’s maiden appearance in English domestic cricket, offering valuable exposure ahead of a packed international calendar. Now, with his withdrawal, Yorkshire are left short-staffed in the batting department and will need to rethink their strategy moving forward.
It remains to be seen whether Gaikwad will return to competitive cricket later this year or continue to take time off from the sport.
