Youngsters Must Grab The Opportunities On Sri Lanka Tour, Says Former Selector Dilip Vengsarkar

Former India captain and a former BCCI chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said that the youngsters should look to make the most of the opportunities they will get on the ongoing Sri Lanka tour of 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.

With most of the first-choice players in England, the BCCI sent a second-string outfit to Sri Lanka which comprises several inexperienced players. As India are still far from locking their eleven for the T20 World Cup, Dilip Vengsarkar opined that the players in Sri Lanka should grab their chances with both hands to make a case for inclusion in the World Cup squad. There are spots up for grabs in both the batting and bowling department.

“I want everybody to perform. Cricket is all about opportunities and all these youngsters must grab it themselves. Not only Shikhar, but also guys like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw and all the guys that have been picked in the squad because there is going to be a lot of competition not only for the opening slot but all the positions in the team. It’s always good to have options and whoever does well, I’m sure will get his due,” Dilip Vengsarkar told Hindustan Times.

Every player must and needs to play all the formats: Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar further stated that no player should be pigeonholed as a one-format cricketer, and should be able to play all three formats when asked to.

He emphasized the importance of playing Test cricket as it’s the ultimate form of the game which tests the players in different aspects.

“I don’t believe in this red-ball and white-ball concept. Whatever is there, you just have to play. I don’t think anybody is good in red-ball cricket and bad in white-ball or vice-versa. Every player must and needs to play all the formats.

“You can’t say I’m good only in one format and that’s what I’ll be playing. No cricketer would like to have a stamp on him that he is good only in one format. Also, the longer format is the ultimate form of the game. And of course, ODIs and T20Is are equally important but it’s important that the ICC or the BCCI must see to it that the longer format is healthy,” the former captain added.

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