 |
| file |
On Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed India's squads for the upcoming West Indies tour in the One Day International (ODI) and Test formats. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who performed exceptionally well in the Indian Premier League (IPL), were rewarded with call-ups to the national team.
Notably, several prominent players who featured in the World Test Championship final, such as Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav, were left out of the squad.
Initial assumptions suggested that Umesh Yadav's omission was a result of his underwhelming performance in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand at The Oval in London. However, reports from The Times of India clarify that Yadav has not been dropped but rather rested due to a hamstring injury. The fast bowler is currently recovering at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who also played a crucial role in the World Test Championship final, failed to exhibit his usual brilliance on the field, scoring just 14 and 27 in both innings, respectively. Some experts have questioned whether this marks the end of Pujara's journey in the national team. However, a BCCI source confirmed that the doors are not closed for either Yadav or Pujara. The source emphasized that the selectors do not want senior players to retire prematurely.
The source cited the example of Ajinkya Rahane, who was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test side despite being out of the team for 15 months before the World Test Championship final. This indicates that any player has the opportunity to make a comeback. The source further stated, "The doors aren't closed on any senior player." It is important to start transitioning and avoid a situation where all the senior players retire simultaneously, leaving the dressing room devoid of experienced individuals, the source added.
In summary, the BCCI announced India's ODI and Test squads for the West Indies tour, including the inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Umesh Yadav's absence from the squad is due to a hamstring injury, not a drop in performance. Similarly, Cheteshwar Pujara's position in the team is not under immediate threat, and the selectors aim to avoid a mass exodus of senior players to maintain experienced individuals within the squad.
