We're Unhappy With Players' Attitude - Raju Kulkarni Warns Mumbai Players

Mumbai’s senior selection committee wasn’t happy with the attitude and performance of several senior players during the Syed Mushtaq Ali 2023 Trophy. Chief selector Raju Kulkarni stated that the team struggled to score big totals despite having a strong batting lineup.

Mumbai entered India’s domestic T20 tournament as defending champions but failed to reach the semi-final stage. The Domestic Giant suffered an elimination following a three-wicket loss against Baroda. They failed to defend a 148-point score in the knockout game.

We Struggled To Get Big Totals – Raju Kulkarni

In a conversation with The Times of India, Raju Kulkarni expressed disappointment in the team’s inability to defend their title and their struggles in achieving high totals despite having a strong batting lineup.

“Mumbai’s senior selection committee is not only disappointed that we could not defend our title, but also with the fact that with such a strong batting line up, we struggled to get to big totals,” said Raju Kulkarni.

Performance Was Not As Per Our Expectations – Raju Kulkarni

Raju Kulkarni said that the senior players’ performance did not meet the committee’s expectations during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

“The senior players have an added responsibility of demonstrating commitment and discipline both on and off the field, as young players look up to them and seek to emulate their example. However, based on feedback of the team management and our live match observations by the selector who travelled with the team to watch the SMAT matches, their performance was not as per our expectations,” Kulkarni said.

Will Not Hesitate To Drop A Player – Raju Kulkarni

Kulkarni revealed that the Mumbai senior selection committee is unhappy with certain players’ attitudes and is ready to drop any player who doesn’t give their full efforts on the field.

“We are not happy with the attitude of certain players and will not hesitate to drop a player” (for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy (domestic One-dayers) if “they fail to give their full efforts in the field.”

“The Mumbai Cricket Association has entrusted us with the responsibility of selecting the best team. We have a zero-tolerance policy and their performance is all that matters to us,” he further added

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