Former India opener and a legend in his rights, Sunil Gavaskar, is shocked at seeing some of the selections of the Indian team in the ongoing series against England and has taken a dig at the team management for preferring stylish players ahead of sensible and experienced players.
“It looks like all the nice guys are being left out’ and ‘they should start getting a different hair style and some body art done too to get picked in the team,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for a well know daily.
The former India captain hailed the team for their exceptional performance of late but, was miffed at the fact that Rahane didn’t get enough chances in the series.
“India had made changes on the expected lines with the unassuming trio of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Kedar Jadhav and Yazuvendra Chahal being left out of the side. Rahul got yet another chance while the top scorer of the just-concluded One-day series in the West Indies -Ajinkya Rahane -sat out once again. After the magnificent partnership between Rohit Sharma and skipper Kohli had been broken, it was expected that Rahul would come in to bat. He would have had time to settle down and get his eye in. Instead, it was Hardik Pandya who was sent in earlier.”
Gavaskar clarified that he doesn’t have any problem with a player being promoted or given a chance but, he feels that it shouldn’t be done at the cost of any inform player. Rahane is the only player in the squad who is yet to get an ODI game in the ongoing series despite being India’s leading run-getter in the previous series against Windies which the Men in Blue won by a 3-1 margin.
He is expected to be back for the final ODI after Shikhar Dhawan already left for India to be with his ailing mother. Rahane will look to make full use of the opportunity and get some rhythm back.