Former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has said that he fails to understand the logic behind naming Ajinkya Rahane the Indian Test vice-captain once more, just one game after he returned to the team after spending 18 months out.
Ajinkya Rahane made his India Test team comeback in the recent World Test Championship (WTC 2023) final against Australia on the back of some strong performances in domestic cricket and the IPL 2023.
This was his first Test since playing in South Africa in January of 2022 and he did shine with the bat for India with scores of 89 and 46 in their 209-run loss.
When the BCCI selectors named the Indian squad for the two Tests against West Indies for their tour of the Caribbean, Rahane was shockingly appointed captain Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the series.
Speaking about the same, Sourav Ganguly said that it would have been pragmatic if someone like Shubman Gill was named vice-captain and the grooming process for the next captain of the Indian side began.
"I won't say it's a step backward. You have been out for 18 months, then you play a Test and you become a vice-captain. I don't understand the thought process behind it. There is Ravindra Jadeja, who has been there for a long time and is a certainty in Test matches, he is a candidate. But to just come back and straightway become vice-captain after 18 months, I don't understand. My only thing is that the selection shouldn't be hot and cold. There has to be continuity and consistency in selection," Ganguly told PTI.
While Rahane was made the vice-captain, another senior pro, Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the squad after poor outings against Australia at home and in the WTC 2023 final.
"Selectors should have a clear idea about him (Pujara). Do they need him to play Test cricket anymore or do they want to continue with youngsters and communicate it to him? Somebody like Pujara can't be dropped, then picked, dropped again, and then picked. Same with Ajinkya Rahane also," Ganguly added.
There has been an overgrowing feeling that even to get a nod in Test cricket, one needs to have a solid IPL like Ruturaj Gaikwad had. Ganguly, though, disagrees with that notion. He said a prolific batter like Sarfaraz Khan, who could not do well in IPL, should get a chance to prove himself.
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“I think Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored tons of runs in Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy, and Duleep Trophy. I think that's why he is in the squad. I feel for Sarfaraz Khan. At some point, he should get an opportunity for the number of runs that he has scored in the past three years.
And the same thing for Abhimanyu Easwaran for the tons of runs he has scored in the last five to six years. I am surprised that both of them have been omitted but they should get a chance in the future. But Yashasvi Jaiswal is a good selection,” Ganguly said about Sarfaraz Khan being overlooked for the West Indies tour.
He has seen Sarfaraz from close quarters as Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals and he isn't amused with the perception that he can't play fast bowling.
"If you don't play him (Sarfaraz) against fast bowling, how do you know? If he had problems he wouldn't have scored so many runs all around (India). I feel he has no problems against fast bowling and he should be given an opportunity,” Ganguly said.
India will play two Tests in West Indies in Dominica from July 12 onwards and in Trinidad from July 20 onwards. The tour will also consist of three ODIs and five T20Is.
(PTI inputs)
