Wasim Jaffer Questions The Selection Of Ruturaj Gaikwad: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made waves last Friday with the announcement of the 16-man squad for the upcoming two-Test tour in West Indies. Veteran players Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav are conspicuously absent from the roster, while newcomers Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Mukesh Kumar are making their debut.
The chosen lineup hints at the team management’s initiation of a transformational phase. However, not everyone is on board with these radical changes. There are discernable murmurings of discontent among the cricketing fraternity regarding the squad’s composition.
Former India opener, Wasim Jaffer, has raised his concerns publicly. He questions the reasoning behind the inclusion of four openers for the two Test matches. He expresses his doubts via a note shared on Twitter, saying, “What’s the need for four openers?”
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Wasim Jaffer is surprised with the selection of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Indian test team
Jaffer also highlights the absence of Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan, who has been in fantastic form in first-class cricket in recent seasons. “They could have picked Sarfaraz as an extra middle-order bat to honour his consistent domestic performances,” Jaffer stated, adding another dimension to the ongoing debate.
The seasoned cricketer doesn’t stop there. He brings attention to Abhimanyu Easwaran and Priyank Panchal’s absence from the squad. Both players have put in significant effort in Ranji and India A and have been eagerly awaiting a chance to debut in Test cricket. “Just because they don’t play IPL, is it a case of out of sight, out of mind?” Jaffer questions, adding fuel to the ongoing debate around the importance of IPL performances in team selection.
Wasim Jaffer further wonders about Gaikwad’s seemingly abrupt inclusion, asking, “How did Ruturaj jump the queue?” This question hints at an underlying debate about the criteria for selection and the relative weightage given to domestic cricket versus IPL performances.
Thoughts? #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/2YwaMuOwvN
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) June 24, 2023
Lastly, Jaffer expresses surprise at Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the squad after a month-long break. Jaffer observes that Shami tends to get better, fitter, and finds his form the more he bowls, suggesting that resting him might not be the best decision.
To conclude, while the BCCI’s new lineup signals a fresh phase for Indian cricket, it has also stirred a whirlwind of questions and debates. Wasim Jaffer’s pointed questions highlight the balancing act between honouring domestic performances, maintaining the team’s consistency, and bringing in fresh talent. As the dust settles on this announcement, cricket fans worldwide will watch with bated breath to see how this new squad performs in the West Indies. It remains to be seen if the risks taken will pay off or if the criticism will find validation. For now, the saga of Indian cricket’s transformation continues.
