Last Update: January 10, 2023, 12:36 pm IST
Ishan Kishan had scored a double century against Bangladesh last year. (AP Photo)
Despite their impressive performances in bilateral series, the Indian team continues to struggle in multi-team events
Indian team selection has not gone down well with former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad, who claims that the team management is rewarding mediocrity and that is the reason they keep doing poorly in limited-overs cricket.
Prasad was reacting to India skipper Rohit Sharma’s confirmation that Shubman Gill will be at the top of the batting order during the first ODI against Sri Lanka and not Ishan Kishan, who had a record-breaking double century in the previous innings.
“Think it would have been fair to give the guy who scored a double century in India’s last ODI a chance, and in a series where India Lost two games and series. There is all the time in the world for Gill, but you can’t single out a player for scoring a double hundred,” Prasad tweeted.
Think it would have been fair if a chance had been given to someone who scored a double century in India’s last ODI, and in a series where India lost two games and the series. Double century player. https://t.co/LbzKKH8ynw— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 9, 2023
Prasad said that if India saw any advantage in playing Gill, he should bat at No.3 and suggested dropping KL Rahul instead.
Prasad said, ‘And if someone is ready to play Gill, then he should bat at No. 3 and let Ishaan take wickets instead of KL Rahul.’
He said frequent changes are proving detrimental and recalled how Rishabh Pant was ignored for the ODI series against South Africa at home despite his match-winning hundred in his last innings.
He said, ‘There is a reason for our poor performance in limited overs cricket. Constant change and a person who performs brilliantly and is an X-factor is removed and mediocrity is retained, said Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs between 1994 and 2001.
“In England, Pant scored a century in the last ODI and helped India win the series. Although he was dropped from the ODI team on the basis of T20 form. KL Rahul, on the other hand, has failed consistently barring a couple of innings but has retained his place. Performance is not the most important parameter. Sad,” he said.
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