24

Dec

Cricket Selectors Continue to Baffle

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India is blessed today that it has a wealth of cricket talent, especially in white-ball cricket, and even with selection blunders, it is capable of winning series and trophies, which cover up the deeds of selectors.

How else does one explain the elevation of Washington Sundar to one drop spot in one match and reversion to the lower order in the very next?

Or playing Jurel ahead of a specialist batter, Padikkal, that the same selection panel had picked.

The circus continues in the selection of the T20 World Cup squad!

The omission of Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma is drawing expected flak.

Let us go back to the T20 World Cup in 2024, where Rohit and Virat were openers. Who was the backup opener – Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yet when the veterans called it a day, Jaiswal still could not make it and Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson became a choice. Then Shubman was brought in at the expense of Samson. And made vice captain too when his place in the 11 was not yet guaranteed in place of Axar Patel.

Now, due to a lack of runs, Shubman is totally out rather than still being in 15, which should have been the case given he is a prolific scorer in T20 in domestic cricket, and Axar is brought back as vice captain.

By the same yardstick, how is Suryakumar Yadav continuing? Will a time come when he, as Rohit Sharma did in Tests in Australia, be forced to drop himself? If he continues to fail in the series against New Zealand, we may actually face this dilemma.

The article criticises India’s cricket selectors for inconsistent and confusing decisions despite the country’s abundance of white-ball talent. It highlights erratic role changes for players like Washington Sundar, questionable selections such as preferring Jurel over Padikkal, and controversial omissions of Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma from the T20 World Cup squad.
Front Foot Forward
By Anil Jauhri
The author questions Gill’s complete exclusion despite his domestic T20 record, while underperformers like Suryakumar Yadav continue to be backed. With many opening and wicketkeeping options available, the selectors are urged to clearly identify the best combinations and stick with them for a sustained period. Concerns are also raised about vice-captaincy choices, the balance between all-rounders and specialists, and the continued neglect of experienced pacers like Shami and Siraj. Despite these issues, the article ends by wishing the team success and hoping selection errors do not prove costly.

The fact is, we have plenty of opening options – the selectors have to be clear-headed on who the best 3 are and then back them for a period of time unless one or more of them do not perform.

Who are these?

Abhishek Sharma, Jaiswal, Gill, Gaikwad, Sai Sudarshan, Samson, Ishan Kishan, and even Rahul.

Some of them, like Abhishek or Jaiswal, are fit for the opener slot only. Some others are more versatile, like Rahul and Gill, who can man the middle order too. Samson showed he could not fit into the middle.

Nor has Ishan shown his ability in the middle order.

So if you pick Abhishek and Jaiswal, we have two keepers who are apparently not fit for the middle order. Does that mean Jaiswal has to stay out to play either Samson or Ishan at the top? Or should we have stayed with Jitesh as one keeper who can bat in the middle order? Or if Jitesh was not considered adequate, should we have called in Rahul? A tough call.

Who do you pick – any of them may perform, but selectors have to make a hard choice. And stick to it until someone does not perform.

Wicket keeping is another area of riches – Pant, Jurel, Jitesh, Ishan, Sanju, Rahul.

The selectors have to decide who the best 2 suited to T20 and then give them a decent run.

What complicates choices is that some of them are openers, and some, like Rahul, are more versatile.

So, will it be wise to select one like Sanju who bats at the top and one who can fit into the middle, say Jitesh or Rahul? The dropping of Jitesh may seem not only unfair to him but also not in the interest of balance.

Let us look at the choice of vice captain.

Ideally, the captain and the vice captain should be automatic choices in the final eleven.

When India plays in the subcontinent, we go with 3 spinners – in the current setup, this means Axar, Kuldeep and Varun. Where do we fit in, Sundar?

But when we play outside sub continent, we may play 2 spinners and 3 pacers with an allrounder Pandya.  Is Axar then a certainty, or would we like to play Kuldeep and Varun? Something to ponder over.

The current management has shown a preference for all-rounders over specialists, and therefore, either Kuldeep or Varun would be in danger.

Let us examine the pace attack. The question should certainly be asked – why are Shami and Siraj being consistently ignored? Bumrah and Arshdeep have cemented their places, but the choice of Rana is till debatable over the other two.

It's again good to cite the Australian example in their choice of pace bowlers – give chance to the best backups regardless of age – Michael Neser was brought back at 35 recently and performed – yet when main strike bowlers become available, they play.

Apart from the opinions, at this stage we should wish the team all the best in the World Cup and hope none of the selection lapses cost us heavily.

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