Last Update: March 01, 2023, 18:48 IST
Bengal fast bowler Akash Deep (Twitter Image)
Only Abhimanyu Easwaran and Mukesh Kumar were named in the playing XI by the selection panel in consultation with ROI coach Sitanshu Kotak.
Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla believes Sudeep Kumar Gharami and Akash Deep’s omission from Rest of India’s playing XI for the Irani Cup is “disappointing” and will definitely hurt their confidence going forward.
In-form batsman Gharami, who scored over 800 runs, and fast bowler Akash, who took over 40 wickets, played a big part in Bengal’s second final appearance in three years.
However, Yashasvi Jaiswal (No.3) and Navdeep Saini (pacer) are on the national radar India A players and hence preferred over the two Bengal cricketers.
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“It is disappointing to say the least and the shoulders will be slumping for these talented players. The selectors should consider it and as far as players are concerned they always give their best.”
Only Abhimanyu Easwaran and Mukesh Kumar were named in the playing XI by the selection panel in consultation with ROI coach Sitanshu Kotak.
Young Gharami was in excellent form in the Ranji season, scoring 803 runs in just 10 matches to finish sixth in the list of highest run-getters in Ranji.
The 23-year-old, who averaged over 50 in 18 innings with three scintillating centuries and five half-centuries, had to sit out.
Yash Dhull, another middle-order batsman, managed just 270 runs in six matches for Delhi, while Tamil Nadu’s Baba Indrajith scored 505 runs in seven matches.
Now Dhull had a poor season but he is one of the next generation of batsmen who has been zeroed in on by the NCA and the selectors and will be given a long rope to succeed. The opportunity came full circle for Tamil Nadu domestic bulwark Indrajith as Sarfaraz Khan has a fractured finger.
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Akash, on the other hand, was ruthless with the ball throughout the season as he finished seventh in the list of highest wicket-taker.
The 26-year-old claimed 41 wickets in 10 matches with three five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.
Surprisingly Delhi pacer Saini, who had not played a single Ranji match in the season, was included in the XI.
Now Saini, is still in and around that Indian red ball team and is expected to travel to England as a net bowler and will be on the radar for his pace.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)