Prithvi Shaw Should Have Been Included For England Tests: Sarandeep Singh

Former Indian chief selector Sarandeep Singh expected the youngster to be present in the squad for the England Tests. The Chetan Sharma-led newly-appointed selection panel left Prithvi Shaw out of the 20-man squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Sarandeep Singh expressed his surprise behind Shaw’s non-selection, saying he is experienced enough to be there.

Prithvi Shaw has not donned the whites for India since the first Test of the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Australia’s bowling attack exposed the right-handed batsman’s weaknesses against the ball coming in brutally. As a result, he could not find a place for the next three games and Shubman Gill replaced him for the same and the four Tests at home against England too.

But Prithvi Shaw roared to form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he mustered over 800 runs in eight games to top the run-scoring charts. The Maharashtra-born cricketer’s impressive form with the bat for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 has seen him return to the white-ball squads for the Sri Lanka tour; however, it hasn’t been enough in Tests. Shaw averages a healthy 51.43 in 25 first-class matches, scoring 2263 runs, with nine centuries.

I am surprised with Easwaran’s selection: Sarandeep Singh

Sarandeep Singh expressed his surprise with Abhimanyu Easwaran in the reserve-player list as Prithvi Shaw, who scored a century on debut, has enough experience, having played a few Tests. The former Indian cricketer highlighted that Shaw is currently in form too and should have got the nod. Singh further claimed that Devdutt Padikkal’s impressive domestic form deserved rewards.

“I am surprised with Easwaran’s selection. I thought Prithvi Shaw is an experienced player at international level, and has played Tests. He is currently in form also. He should have been included. I would have even thought of Devdutt Padikkal, because you need to reward domestic performances too,” Singh told IANS.

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