Ashwin Explains Gaikwad's NZ ODI Snub Despite Century; Cites Pant, Kohli-Rohit Factor

• Ruturaj Gaikwad dropped from India's ODI squad for New Zealand series despite scoring a century in his last match.
• Gaikwad hit 105 off 83 balls against South Africa, batting in the middle order.
• R Ashwin suggests Gaikwad competed with Rishabh Pant for a middle-order spot, with Pant preferred for being left-handed.
• Ashwin believes Gaikwad will only get a consistent run in the team after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retire.
• Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant were preferred for batting slots.

Why It Matters: Gaikwad's omission highlights intense competition; Ashwin points to Pant's left-handed advantage and senior players' presence.