India questioned over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi selection call
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has questioned India’s decision to field a near full-strength side against Afghanistan, arguing that the three-match T20I series should instead have been used to test the depth of the squad and provide opportunities to players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Vaibhav…
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has questioned India’s decision to field a near full-strength side against Afghanistan, arguing that the three-match T20I series should instead have been used to test the depth of the squad and provide opportunities to players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi..
(Hindustan Times)India left the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi out of their playing XI for the opening T20I in Delhi on Sunday, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma preferred at the top of the order. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy, meanwhile, were all part of.
What Happened
Sooryavanshi’s omission particularly surprised Akmal considering India had already exposed the youngster to tougher opposition during their recent tour of England. Speaking on Game Plan, Akmal said India could have used the Afghanistan series to continue developing him rather than returning to.
India and Afghanistan will return to the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the second T20I on Tuesday, with Sooryavanshi’s place in the XI likely to remain one of the major selection talking points after India’s.
Maybe after playing this series, Varun can bring his rhythm back.
But you will see, from the World Cup to the England series, he was not doing so well.
Key Details
Akmal’s broader argument was that India have enough depth to rotate several of their first-choice players without significantly weakening the side, particularly in a home series. He pointed towards the way senior players were managed during previous eras and felt India had.
The team was like this, the opponent was like this.
The spinner conceded only 16 runs in his four overs and picked up a wicket.
Akmal did see one advantage in India fielding their established players, pointing to Chakaravarthy’s performance as a potentially useful exercise ahead of bigger assignments.
Why It Matters
I think series like these help develop backup players. Whether it is MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, they did not play against such teams.
We have been watching this for the last 12-15 years.
This was the best chance for them to get new players.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge
