The debate over the selection of Indian players does not seem to be stopping anytime soon. With Rohit Sharma getting preference in the playing XI, opinions kept pouring in.
Former opener Kris Srikkanth isn't in support of Rohit's selection in the team. He feels Sharma failed to perform and prove himself in tough conditions.
Srikkanth wrote in his column for Times of India,"From the moment India surrendered the Cape Town Test, suggestions on changes to the line-up for the second Test became inevitable. Results in team sport will always hinge on selection and I frankly believe the think tank got a few calls wrong."
He backed Ajinkya Rahane for the spot in playing XI and added, "Well I have the advantage of talking after the game is over but to bench a proven customer [overseas] like [Ajinkya] Rahane and playing Rohit Sharma instead lacked logic. In the numerous chances he has received, Rohit has hardly made it count in challenging conditions, while Rahane has shown he has the ability to lift his game when taken out of his comfort zone."
Srikkanth is in favor to play R Ashwin, despite the pitch is assisting pacers more. He thinks Ashwin's skills provide a much-needed balance to the side.
"There have been talks of [Ravichandran] Ashwin being dropped to accommodate Rahane. In my opinion, this would be a backward step," he said. "Ashwin did most things expected of him and looked more at ease than some of the top-order batsmen. He has done well outside the sub-continent as a batsman. Add his ability with the ball, he lends good balance to the side as well."
Later he also backed KL Rahul over Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings saying the former is a better bet against the moving ball.
"The result might have still been the same, but India would have given themselves a better chance of starting the series better. And KL Rahul is one opener who is unruffled against the moving ball. He is slightly more solid at the crease than Shikhar Dhawan. The left-hander did get a brute of a ball in the second innings, however, given his track record outside Asia, I would have preferred Rahul to open with Vijay," he said.
