In a highly competitive cricketing setup like India's, it isn't always easy to break into the national team. Many players throughout history have failed to find a place in the Indian XI despite stellar performances in domestic circuit. Recently, Sarfaraz Khan – Mumbai's star batter who has produced incredible outings in Ranji Trophy over the past few years – was snubbed again for India's upcoming two-Test series against West Indies. Abhimanyu Easwaran is another unlucky one to miss out. There have been many who spent their entire careers waiting for an India call-up and eventually retired without a national cap, however. But Saurashtra's Sheldon Jackson, who turns 37 this year, hasn't given up yet.
Jackson produced impressive performances for Saurashtra in the last season and also represented the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League. Having played in 90 first-class matches and 77 List A fixtures, Jackson continues to wait for an India call-up and had also voiced his frustration when he was snubbed even for India 'A' last year.
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“I have a right to believe and dream that if I have performed for 3 continuous season, I may get picked on the basis of my performances not age, tired of hearing this that I'm a good player and performer but I'm old, I'm 35 not 75,” Jackson had written on his official Twitter profile in August 2022.
The perennial wait hasn't dampened Jackson's spirit. In an interview with Sportskeeda, Jackson stated that he gets the motivation to continue in his cricketing career from India stalwarts Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni; while Karthik, at age 37, made a stunning comeback to Team India last year, Dhoni steered the Chennai Super Kings to a record fifth IPL title this year at age 41.
{{/usCountry}}The perennial wait hasn't dampened Jackson's spirit. In an interview with Sportskeeda, Jackson stated that he gets the motivation to continue in his cricketing career from India stalwarts Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni; while Karthik, at age 37, made a stunning comeback to Team India last year, Dhoni steered the Chennai Super Kings to a record fifth IPL title this year at age 41.
{{/usCountry}}“I get motivated when I see Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni. I was with him (Karthik) at KKR and I have seen his entire transformation. He is a true inspiration for me and at the stage of my career that I am he is a motivation to me,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he would not have played close to 100 first-class matches and scored at an average of 49 if he was not good enough.
"If you don't get the chance where you will make an impact? I can never comment on anyone's selection. I can only ask about me, that why I have not got picked. I will never call a selector and ask why am I not picked.
“If I was not good enough, I wouldn't have played 90+ games with an average close to fifty. My red ball stats and white ball stats are two different thing,” he further stated.
This year, Jackson didn't play in the IPL but is expected to turn up for Saurashtra when the domestic season begins.