The Indian cricket selectors made some tough calls on Friday, the biggest of which could mark the end of MS Dhoni’s T20 international career.
The former Indian skipper has been excluded from the squads for the next six T20 matches India plays; the 3 matches at home against the Windies and then 3 later this winter in Australia.
While Dhoni found himself out in the cold, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma both found themselves back in the Test squad even as in-form youngster Mayank Agarwal has been dropped without a game.
In a 15 minute press briefing late on Friday night, Chairman of Selectors MSK Prasad did explain some of the committee’s decisions, but it did leave a lot of questions unanswered.
1. The Timing of the Announcement
Why the hurry to announce the umpteen squads at 1030pm on a Friday night? Could the selectors, and those in the administration in the BCCI, not hold back until Saturday morning to hold the meeting, or even announce the squads?
2. Why Pick Six Squads Together?
Why the hurry to name all squads together? Have the selectors had a close look at the schedule before naming the squads? One gets the impression they have not.
Rohit Sharma, for instance, will captain the Indian team in the 3 T20Is against the Windies (ending Nov 11), will play a 4-day (Test audition) match against New Zealand A between November 16 & 19, and immediately after that will feature in India’s T20I in Australia (Nov 21-25) as vice-captain. Isn’t this too much to ask of a player?
3. Rohit Sharma’s Test Return
Rohit Sharma’s last first-class match – at the time of his selection – was the Centurion Test in January. What has he done in the longer format – since being dropped in South Africa and after being overlooked for the Test series in England – to merit a selection in the touring party to Australia?
Was his selection based on his recent white ball exploits? Did the initial idea to bring up Rohit Sharma’s name for consideration come from within the selection committee, or were they influenced by comments and recommendations from eminent personalities on the outside? Who among the five selectors proposed Rohit’s name to be considered? Was there consensus among the five selectors in his selection?
4. M Vijay Returns After 3 County Matches
Murali Vijay was dropped – not from the playing XI, but from the squad altogether – after the 3rd Test on the tour of England earlier this year. At the age of 34, it was assumed then that his time at the Test level had come to a disappointing end.
However, the opener from Tamil Nadu went back to playing County cricket and scored runs for Essex.
How did the selectors evaluate Murali Vijay’s performance in those three county matches? Was there any selector present watching those three matches? For all you know, the bulk of the 323 runs he scored could have been accumulated in an unconvincing manner.
5. Vijay’s Confused Selection
In continuation with Murali Vijay’s selection, one has to ask if this Selection Committee has a vision at all? If the selectors were considering Vijay for the tour of Australia, why then did they not pick him for the home series against the Windies? KL Rahul was any which way going to be a certainty for the tour Down Under; so shouldn’t the selectors have given Murali Vijay an outing at Rajkot and Hyderabad?
6. Why Not Explore New Options?
Every time there is an opening, this selection committee appears to be inclined to looking back and picking players from the past. Think Shikhar Dhawan, Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma (in Tests), and Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami (ODIs). In a large country such as India, is there a dearth of talent that the selectors have to always pick from players who have been unsuccessful at the highest level?
In doing this, what message are the selectors sending out to all the youngsters who toil hours on endlessly playing domestic cricket with the sole aim of earning the India cap?
7. Basis of Parthiv Recall?
The selection of Parthiv Patel as reserve wicket-keeper in the Test team is intriguing. The 33-year old did find a place in the Test squad for the tour of England earlier this year, and now comes back into the squad for the Test series in Australia.
What was the basis of his selection?
How do the selectors justify overlooking all those players who have kept wickets for India A in the last few months? What about the likes of Srikar Bharat, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, who have all been India A wicket-keepers in recent times? Do they stand a realistic chance of playing for India?
8. Jadhav ‘Fitness’ Developments
Soon after naming the Indian squad for the last 3 home ODIs against the Windies, the PTI, on 25 October, quoted chairman of selectors MSK Prasad as saying “We did not pick Kedar because of his history of fitness. There have been occasions earlier when he has come back fit and then broken down, a case in point being the Asia Cup last month.”
Then, late on 26 October, the selection committee announced Jadhav’s inclusion in the Indian squad for the last two ODIs against the Windies. Can the selection committee explain what events took place, and what they learnt in the 24 to 48 hours since MSK Prasad’s initial explanation to the PTI, that convinced them that Jadhav should be part of the ODI squad?
9. Mayank Agarwal Dropped Without a Game
What about Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal? Did the selectors speak to them before they announced the various squads on Oct 26?
Karun Nair, who was part of the Indian Test team in England, has been ignored from the Test team, and Rohit Sharma brought in from the wilderness to take that spot. That’s not all; strangely, Karun Nair does not find a place in India A’s first four-day match against New Zealand A, but he has been named captain for the second and third four-day matches. Anyone care to explain the logic behind that?
And what about Mayank Agarwal, a batsman who has scored more runs than any batsman in the world in the last twelve months.
10. What About Axar Patel?
The left-arm spinner was in the squad for India’s last T20I series in England. Now, he has been overlooked – for the home series against the Windies and the T20I series in Australia. Is the 24-year old injured? If not, what explains Axar Patel being ignored – especially when he has not been given a chance to perform in India colours; his last international appearance for India was in a T20I in South Africa in February 2018.
11. Was Dhoni Kept in Loop?
Finally, did the Chairman of the Selection committee have a conversation with MS Dhoni before deciding they would not pick him in the T20I sides? Or was it at the behest of Dhoni that they decided to look at alternatives on the wicket-keeping front?
One would consider it to be a very basic expectation that the Selectors would communicate before-hand (or even just prior to announcing the squad) if they intend to drop, rest or ignore certain players. It is a must-do in the case of former captains and when dealing with legends of the game. Did MSK Prasad and his team have that chat with MS Dhoni prior to or immediately after Friday’s selections?
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)