E-Paper
Sign in
'X-factor dropped, mediocrity retained': Prasad accuses Rohit Sharma, Team India of biased selections
Venkatesh Prasad, however, did not buy into Rohit's logic of picking Shubman Gill ahead of Ishan Kishan. He instead, accused the Rohit-led team management for bias in selection, saying performance doesn't seem to be the primary criteron for selection in the Indian side nowadays.
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad slammed captain Rohit Sharma, the selectors and the team management for dropping Ishan Kishan in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati. Kishan had scored the fastest double century in India's last ODI against Bangladesh in December replacing an injured Rohit Sharma who was ruled out due to a dislocated thumb. India, however, decided to play Shubam Gill in the series opener against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. It was expected as Rohit had confirmed the same in the pre-match press conference.
"Both openers have done really well. But looking at how both openers have gone through, it's fair that we give Gill a chance to have a good run," Rohit said ahead of the first game.
To be fair to Gill, who, for some strange reason, wasn't a part of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, he was one of India's most prolific run-scorers last year. He notched up 687 runs in 13 innings with a 57-plus average and 99-plus strike-rate while opening the batting.
INDIA VS SRI LANKA LIVE SCORE 1st ODI
"Gill has got a lot of runs in the last few games, so has Ishan. I am not going to take anything away from him (Ishan). He's been wonderful for us, got a double hundred. And, I know what it takes to get a double hundred, it is a great achievement," said Rohit, who is the only batter to have three ODI double hundreds.
"But just to be honest and fair to the guys who have done really well before, we need to give those guys enough chances as well before we make that call."
Terming it unfortunate, Rohit said Ishan would get his chances as they have 15 ODIs and the Asia Cup lined up before the World Cup in October-November.
"It's unfortunate that we won't be able to play Ishan. But looking at how things have panned out for us in the last eight-nine months and how the ODIs have gone through for us, it's fair to give Gill that run and he's done extremely well in that position.
But Rohit assured that Ishan remains very much in the mix.
"Yes, Ishan is certainly going to miss out but it is very unfortunate. But that does not rule out anything. We are going to try and keep everyone in the mix and see how it pans out for us as we play a lot of games ahead."
Venkatesh Prasad, however, did not buy into Rohit's logic. He instead, accused the Rohit-led team management for bias in selection, saying performance doesn't seem to be the primary criteron for selection in the Indian side nowadays.
"Think fair would have been to give chance to a man who scored a double hundred in India’s last ODI, and in a series where India lost two games and the series. Have all the time in the world for Gill, but no way you drop a player for scoring a double ton. And if one is convinced to play Gill, then can have him bat at 3 and let Ishan keep wickets instead of KL Rahul," he tweeted.
The former pacer also cited India's decision to prefer KL Rahul over someone like Rishabh Pant in ODIs to strengthen his point of inconsistency in selection.
"There is a reason we have underperformed in Limited overs cricket. Constant chopping changing and a guy who does brilliantly and is an X factor is dropped and mediocrity retained.
"In Eng, Pant scored a hundred in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However, based on T20 form was dropped from ODI team. KL Rahul on the other hand barring a couple of innings has failed consistently but retains his place. Performance is not the foremost parameter. Sad," he added.
