Eyebrows raised Questions asked to the Indian selectors

A day after India’s defeat in South Africa. The Indian selection panel headed by the Chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil sat down in New Delhi to pick the team for the tour of New Zealand starting January 16. The team for the tests was almost similar with only one change that of Pragyan Ojha being left out and raw pacer Ishwar Pandey included instead.

TESTS

MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishwar Pandey

In:Ishwar Pandey

Out:Pragyan Ojha

ODIs

MS Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron

In:Ishwar Pandey, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron

Out:Yuvraj Singh, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav

Former cricketers who have served the country are now raising questions over a few players. First of all Ojha being excluded even without giving him an outing in South Africa. R Ashwin who is out of form instead continues to be a part of the team which for many is quite astonishing.

Other is of Yuvraj Singh being axed for poor performance in Africa where as Suresh Raina who had a similar tour is able to hold his spot. If performance and not records are held base either none or both should have been left out. Is the CSK connect saving Raina his place in the team? The critics of the panel and the camp opposing N Srinivasan gets to ask now.

The most surprising was Stuart Binny’s name in the team. Binny after a good IPL season in the first half of the year has so far had a below average, ordinary Ranji Trophy season. Binny is not even among the top 50 players of the domestic season. Rojjer Binny a selector Stuart being his son does this make him eligible to be a part of the New Zealand touring team? These are some serious questions and the selectors need to justify their decision after all they are selecting Indian Cricket team and we fans have all the rights to know the methodology of selection.

It is a rear chance though that either the BCCI or selector come in open and take a stand. The players who have got a chance now should sweat it out to try and justify their inclusion. It would also be a fitting answer than the verbal one. In all respects the governing body and authorities must ensure the trust of 1.2 billion Indians stays with them, their players and the game.