Ravi Shastri Can Say Anything To Virat Kohli About What He Wants: Sarandeep Singh Responds On Ambati Rayudu's Selection In 2019 WC

Former Indian national selector Sarandeep Singh disagreed with Ravi Shastri’s comments on Ambati Rayudu’s selection in the 2019 World Cup.

Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar was picked ahead of Rayudu in the Indian squad for the marquee event. The selectors had cited that Shankar is a three-dimensional player. In the hindsight, Rayudu announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, a decision that was reversed by the Hyderabad player.

Shastri, who was then head coach of the Indian cricket team, said he had no say in the selection matters and questioned the inclusion of three wicketkeeper-batters in the squad.

“I had no say in that. But I wasn’t okay with three wicket keepers being picked for the World Cup. Either Ambati or Shreyas could’ve come in. What was the logic in having MS Dhoni, Rishabh and Dinesh all together? But I never interfered with the selectors’ work, except when I was asked for feedback or as part of a general discussion,” Shastri told The Times of India.

Ravi Shastri can say which player he wants: Sarandeep Singh

Responding to Shastri’s assertion, Sarandeep, who was part of the MSK Prasad-led selection committee, said that the captain and the head coach of the team can suggest their choice of players before finalising the main squad.

“Ravi Shastri is right that the coach does not have any say in the selection meeting but the selection committee goes to the ground, speaks to the captain and head coach and tells them about the plans and we also ask what they want. If there is any player you are asking for. If you look at the last few years we are winning almost every bilateral series,” Sarandeep told news agency ANI.

“He is the head coach so he can say which player he wants. He can say anything to Virat about what he wants. Sometimes it happens that we feel differently but at the end of the day we are always on the same page. For four years we never had different thoughts with Ravi bhai and he is a good coach also. He listens to us all the time. So, suddenly if something like this came up, we always sat together and were always on the same page,” he added.

“All the three wicket-keepers were very good batsmen: Sarandeep Singh

MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik were the frontline wicket-keepers of the team and Rishabh Pant joined the squad as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan in the middle of the tournament. Sarandeep said that all three of them were good batters at that point.

“All the three wicket-keepers were very good batsmen. A selector does not interfere in selection. Rishabh Pant was selected when Shikhar Dhawan got injured during the World Cup. We already had an opener in KL Rahul. So, we were looking for someone to come and bat in the middle order and play big shots. This is the reason why Rishabh Pant was in the team. But to pick playing eleven is team management’s call. The selection committee does not interfere in it,” Sarandeep said.

India topped the charts of the round-robin stage in the 2019 World Cup but were knocked out in the semi-final by Kane Williamson’s New Zealand.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Was Reeling From The 2014 England Tour – Ravi Shastri