Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out on the nationwide selectors for making Cheteshwar Pujara the “scapegoat” and ignoring prolific home scorer Sarfaraz Khan for the 2 Checks within the West Indies subsequent month.
Referring to Sarfaraz’s non-selection, Gavaskar questioned the logic behind having the Ranji Trophy if efficiency within the nation’s premier home match will not be seemed into whereas choosing the Indian red-ball groups as a substitute of making an allowance for the gamers’ document within the IPL.
“Sarfaraz Khan has been scoring at a median of 100 in all previous three seasons. What does he should do to be picked within the squad? He may not be within the XI, however you choose him within the workforce,” Gavaskar mentioned of the Mumbai batter to Sports activities At present.
“Inform him that his performances are being recognised. In any other case, cease taking part in Ranji Trophy. Say, it is of no use, you simply play IPL and assume you might be ok for the red-ball recreation as properly.”
With the assistance of three centuries, Sarfaraz amassed 556 runs in six video games at a median of 92.66 within the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy.
The 25-year-old right-handed batter had scored 982 runs at a median of 122.75 within the 2021-22 Ranji season, together with 4 lots of.
In all, Sarfaraz has scored 3,505 runs in 37 first-class matches at a median of 79.65, together with 13 centuries.
So far as Pujara is worried, his absence from the Indian Take a look at workforce for the Windies tour has been one of many speaking factors.
Gavaskar mentioned not having hundreds of thousands of followers on social media platforms, like a number of the different India stars comparable to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, isn’t any motive to drop anybody.
“Why has he been made the scapegoat for our batting failures? He has been a loyal servant of Indian cricket, a quiet and in a position achiever. However as a result of he would not have hundreds of thousands of followers on no matter platforms who would make a noise in case he will get dropped, you drop him? That’s one thing past understanding,” mentioned Gavaskar.
“What’s the standards for dropping him and conserving the others who failed. I do not know as a result of these days there is no such thing as a media interplay with the choice committee chairman or whoever the place you might really ask these questions,” he added.
The extremely promising and in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal might be taking over the No.3 spot that Pujara made his personal during the last decade.
The batting nice mentioned that age shouldn’t be a standards for choosing gamers.
“Sure, he has been taking part in County cricket, he is aware of what the purple ball is all about,” mentioned Gavaskar about Pujara.
“These days gamers can play until they’re 39 or 40, there’s nothing unsuitable with that. They’re all very match and so long as you might be producing runs or taking wickets, I do not assume age needs to be an element.
“Clearly just one man has been singled out whereas the others additionally failed. To me, the batting failed (in WTC remaining). Other than Ajinkya Rahane, there was no person who bought any runs. So, why Pujara has been made the autumn man is one thing the selectors want to clarify,” he mentioned.