Former batsman Yuvraj Singh on Monday (November 4) called for better selectors at the helm for Team India as he believes the MSK Prasad-led selection panel’s “thinking in terms of modern-day cricket” is not up to the mark.
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Apart from Prasad, Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjpe, Gagan Khoda and Devang Gandhi are part of BCCI’s senior selection committee.
“We do need better selectors, for sure. Selectors’ job is not easy. Whenever they select 15 players, there will be talks that what will happen to the other 15. It’s a difficult job but their thinking in terms of modern-day cricket is not up to the mark. It’s my opinion,” Yuvraj told reporters.
“I am always in favour of protecting the players and being positive about them. By talking negative about your players and team doesn’t show you in true light. The character only shows when things are going wrong and you motivate the players. In bad times, everyone talks bad. We definitely need better selectors,” he added.
It is not the first time that Yuvraj has attacked the selection committee. After calling time on his international career in June this year, the southpaw had alleged that the selectors did not pick him after being asked to clear the yo-yo test which he did.
Recently, Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube was compared with Yuvraj after a video of the former was posted on social media while batting at the nets.
Asked about the comparison, Yuvraj said: “Let the guy start his career first, and after a while when he reaches a certain level, then you start comparing him with someone. I don’t think he should be compared to me. He should make his own name. He has the talent.”
“There are a couple of things that need to worked on his game. I am not sure if they will be able to identify where he is making the mistakes. Vikram Rathour is the batting coach, he needs to identify where he is making mistake.
“He (Rathour) is not someone who has played T20s, so I am not sure if he can tell what are the areas that he needs to work on. Give him some time and then expect results. Don’t expect results instantly.”
Having noticed Rishabh Pant’s batting approach during the T20I series against South Africa in September and the first T20I against Bangladesh, Yuvraj feels the young wicketkeeper is not sure whether to hit the ball or rotate the strike.
“I won’t say he (Pant) is confused. He is a bit not sure whether to hit the ball or rotate the strike. Last night he was batting run a ball and got out. The good thing to see was he was taking a bit of time. He is the kind of guy, who can go straightaway go after bowling and who can also take time to go after bowling.
“He has only played 8-10 ODIs, so you got to give that guy a bit of time. You’ve to back your guys and say: ‘ok, we’ve got to give this guy six months or a year to get better and try and play him as much as you can wherever you think he fits well and play.”
Pant didn’t feature in the recent home Test series against South Africa with comeback man Wriddhiman Saha donning the gloves. And Yuvi was critical of that decision.
“Him not playing the Test match was not a great call, somebody who has scored 2 international 100s outside India and scored two 90s against West Indies, I don’t understand, his keeping could have been a concern but I think you got to groom your guys better,” he opined.
“He is a good No.4, No.5. Obviously, people don’t realise that Rishabh was an opener. He always wanted to open the innings and he would go big, opening. He is not the guy who knows how to rotate strike and then go big. He is trying to do that. That’s why, you need to give him time. He is changing his game, we got to give him some time,” Yuvraj concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
