The team selection for the limited overs matches has been announced. The selectors have again gone for a North dominated team. Shikar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Ashish Nehra has been included. Despite good show Murali Vijay was ignored. However, injured Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Shami were not included in the squad. Karun Nair made a quick triple hundred and he is good for the shortest form of the game as well. Again, batsmen like Abhinav Mukund, Baba Indrajith and Dinesh Karthik all made runs but they were ignored. Dinesh Karthik is a better choice for limited over matches. Why the selectors recalled Yuvraj despite his poor show with the bat in World cup T-20 final game against Sri Lanka and afterwards. How players like Jadhav and Binny make it to the team. The team has been selected purely to please skipper Virat Kohli. Dhoni did nothing in recent time to deserve a place in the team. Parthiv Patel has been left out despite good work as an opening batsman with his quick scoring style. England have a good one day and T-20 team and it will be tough for Indian side to turn the tables. Team India did beat England in the test series but instant cricket is a different cup of tea.
The T-20 side and one day sides does not show much change and goes according to expected lines. Despite his failure against moving and bouncing deliveries, Suresh Raina has been chosen. If such scratchy players are given chances repeatedly, they may succeed in one or two matches and still hold their places in the side. The inclusion of Rishab Pant is the only right choice in the whole selection. Mandeep Singh did not merit his selection but come into T-20 side under quota system. Injured players are given preference over more fit players in the fray. Latent talent available in the country is being wasted. Many players despite performing well at home still are unable to play the ball moving from off stump. The lateral movement trouble the openers and out of the five test matches we could build a century partnership in one particular innings. Teams like Australia will dig deep if we show an early weakness.
The bowling looks good only on paper and the highly professional English side will show resilience against spin with field restrictions. There is no penetration in the bowling when two batsmen strike form together and easy runs were gifted. The keeping by Dhoni was showing inherent weakness in the past and we should look for an alternative as he has announced retirement and his place is not secured now in the side. It is time to infuse young blood. Nehra is given much importance without promise for the future. In all Team selection is totally farce.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
