Chetan Sharma Reveals Reason Behind Non-selection Of Hanuma Vihari, Ajinkya Rahane In Test Squad For Bangladesh Tour
Updated - 01 Nov 2022, 01:14 PM
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Chetan Sharma has revealed the real reason behind the non-selection of the Test specialists – Hanuma Vihari and Ajinkya Rahane – in the India squad for the Bangladesh tour.
On Monday, October 31, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s squads for the series against New Zealand and Bangladesh. The India tour of Bangladesh 2022 will consist of a three-match ODI series and a two-match Test series. The ODIs will be played on December 4, 7 and 10 while the Test matches will be played from December 14 to 18 and December 22 to 26.
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At a press conference, Chetan Sharma said there were a lot of discussions about Vihari, but he was left out due to the packed middle order. Sharma added that the 29-year-old is still in India’s scheme of things.
“There were a lot of discussions about Hanuma. Our middle order at this time is packed if you talk about the eleven with Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli (in the middle order), and Shubman Gill obviously is in the scheme of things. Hanuma is also in the scheme of things but sometimes you miss out,” Sharma said in the virtual press conference.
“It’s not like there’s something wrong with this player but according to the combination, conditions and wickets in Bangladesh…the selectors spoke about it, this is your formation and you have to see who are the players who feature in the eleven. So that is the reason Hanuma missed out. He was there in the side and he’ll definitely come back very soon,” he added.
The absence of Vihari from India’s Test squad came as a huge surprise to many as he has not been provided with consistent opportunities and many felt he would be India’s next No.3 in Test cricket after the departure of Cheteshwar Pujara. Vihari last played for India in the rescheduled Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham in July, where he scored 20 and 11.
To return to the team he has to score more runs – Chetan Sharma on Ajinkya Rahane
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector Chetan Sharma further spoke about the absence of Ajinkya Rahane from the Test squad and said that the middle-order batter will have to score more runs in the domestic circuit to make a return to the side.
“The doors are always open for those who perform. Cheteshwar Pujara performed and he is there (in the team). Ajinkya Rahane is trying hard, and also scored some runs, but to return to the team he has to score more runs. And he knows that he’s in constant touch with the selection committee. The Ranji Trophy is coming up and Vijay Hazare is also there.
“Let’s hope that he performs well, the doors are always open for those who perform. If you look at the middle order and how packed it is, even Hanuma Vihari doesn’t have a place. So to break into this, the kind of performance that is required, the selectors don’t have to tell Ajinkya about it. He understands that. He is a great player, played 90-odd Test matches and he knows how to get into the team,” he said.
Squad for Bangladesh Tests:
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav.
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2022
Notably, Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Indian Test squad ahead of the Sri Lanka series at home earlier this year. The former vice-captain of the Test team went through an extended lean patch following which the BCCI selectors took a bold decision to drop him.
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