Senior India women’s cricketer Shikha Pandey got teary-eyed while talking about being excluded from the Indian team on their upcoming tour of Bangladesh. This is not the first time Pandey has found herself out of the Indian side for no official reason.
Pandey, who had played 3 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 62 T20Is for the Indian team, had enjoyed a successful inaugural WPL season with the Delhi Capitals, finishing as her team’s leading wicket-taker, helping them top the points table and reach the final.
The right-arm pacer and handy lower-order batter had recently made her comeback into the team in T20 World Cup earlier this year in South Africa. She was then left out of the list of BCCI central contracts for Indian women cricketers and now was not considered for the ODIs and T20Is in Bangladesh.
Speaking to Sportstar in an interview with former Indian head coach WV Raman, Pandey broke down when asked about her non-selection.
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“If I say I’m not frustrated and angry, then I’m not a human being. It’s difficult when you don’t get the results for the work that you have put in. I’m sure there’s some reason behind it which I do not know. What’s in my hands is hard work, and I’m a stout believer in hard work. So it’s just about working hard until I am mentally and physically fit,” the 34-year-old said.
Pandey mentioned the importance of having good mentors around her during difficult stages of her career and also thanked Raman for his support.
She said: “When I was dropped, I thought walking away from cricket was the right thing to do. Then it was suggested that it was an emotional period and I needed to give myself more time.
You thought I still had a lot of cricket left in me, and I should play until the time I enjoy the sport. I’m disappointed right now, but the situation I’m put in is out of my control, the decisions I take to get out of it are completely in my hands.”
Renuka Singh and Richa Ghosh were the other big names not included in the India squads for the Bangladesh tour. However, Pandey will hope to force her way into the Indian team for the all-format series against England and Australia later this year.
