Legendary Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh hit back at former head coach Ravi Shastri for his statement regarding the phasing out of senior players from the Indian cricket team.

Yuvraj, who played a key role in India’s historic 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup triumphs, said that the senior players deserve respect, and if there are such plans, then the national selectors must inform the players who gave their all to the country.

Earlier, Shastri had voiced the notion that India’s senior players should gracefully phase out, considering the emergence of talented youngsters thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Ravi Shastri told the Week: “There are seniors ready to be phased out and there are youngsters ready, no question about it when it comes to T20 cricket. Lesser in 50-over cricket and even fewer in Test match cricket. Due to the IPL, there are a lot of high-quality youngsters available.”

Read Also: CWC 2023: “Leaving out Chahal could be a mistake, could be a worry"- Yuvraj Singh

Meanwhile, reacting to Shastri’s remarks, Yuvraj Singh told The Week: “If Ravi Shastri says seniors should be phased out, then someone should also tell it to the seniors. The problem in India is the seniors are not told.”

He added, “They have given their heart and soul for the country and they deserve respect. You need to have that talk that ‘Look, it might be hard on you but maybe you might not be looked at’.”

Several former India players complained of a lack of communication from the selectors in the past, but Yuvraj feels the current chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, will have a clear conversation with the players who are not in the team’s plans, unlike in the past.

Yuvraj signed off by saying, “We have a very good chief selector now (Agarkar) who has played for the country for a long time. I feel he can have that tough conversation and tell the seniors where they’re at if the plan is to bring in youngsters. Tell the guys where they are.”

(With The Week Inputs)