New Zealand vs India 2020: Fans Slam Virat Kohli & Team Management As Kedar Jadhav Replaces Manish Pandey In Playing XI For First ODI

Team India sprung a big surprise with the playing eleven for the ongoing first ODI against New Zealand. The team-management surprisingly dropped in-form Manish Pandey in order to make room for Kedar Jadhav who has definitely fallen down the pecking order in recent times.

After guiding Karnataka to Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Manish Pandey earned a recall from the Indian team. He played in all the three ODIs against Australia and the five T20Is against New Zealand while performing well too.

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While he did not get enough time to prove himself against Australia, he did make a mark against New Zealand. In the fifth T20I, he scored an unbeaten fighting fifty which helped India recover from 88 for 6 and went on to post 163 for 3. The Men in Blue had gone on to win the game by seven runs to clean sweep the five-match series.

But the performance did not stop the Indian team-management from dropping him for the ongoing ODI against New Zealand as Kedar Jadhav got a chance in the playing eleven. Jadhav last played an ODI for India during the home series against West Indies in December and failed to do well, scoring 40, 16* and 9. He also bowled in just one match and had gone wicketless.

But the team-management picked him for the ongoing game ahead of Manish Pandey because of his bowling. Captain Virat Kohli explained the reason at the toss, stating:

“Kedar comes back into the squad, so he becomes a spinning option for us along with Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. And the three seamers in the form of Bumrah, Shami and Thakur. The conditions are different from what you get back at home. We know we can be dominant at home, but the away performance is what makes us standout. We need to take the confidence into the series as well. In ODIs you’ll see more guys getting chances.”

However, Kohli’s explanation made little difference as far as the fans are concerned as they slammed the team-management for the decision.

Here are some of the reactions:

On what basis have they dropped Saini from the team? Matlab dimaag hai hi nahi bc. And Kedar Jadhav ladies and gentlemen. Kedar fucking Jadhav.
Sharam ghar bech ke aye hai buggers.
I, mean, how?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

— ? (@DrogonDracarys_) February 5, 2020

Shardul Thakur is playing ahead of Navdeep Saini because he can swing well, Kedar Jadhav is playing ahead of Manish Pandey/Rishabh Pant because he can bowl a bit.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 5, 2020

England are already moving away from some of their core from CWC 2019 as they are looking beyond Moeen, Plunkett and Adil Rashid keeping CWC 2023 in mind.

And then, there is India who are still picking Kedar Jadhav over Manish Pandey or Rishabh Pant in the XI#NZvIND

— Chiggy Viggy (@IdlySambhar) February 5, 2020

https://twitter.com/sarvagyasonu/status/1224899756196937729

World cup champions England already started dropping players who are in mid 30s to start preparing for next world cup. But hey we won't drop kedar jadhav ?? #INDvNZ

— Anju #TeamIndia (@Deep_Point_) February 5, 2020

Kedar Jadhav despite not knowing his current form gets many opportunities.

Manish Pandey who is currently the fittest player in India, athletic in field, top form ignored everytime. WHY?? #NZvsIND #NZvIND

— Ashvattha ? (@rockhearted_) February 5, 2020

#NZvIND Kedar Jadhav such a tardy person while throwing the ball will start in top 11 and Manish Pandey who is holding the helm of the Indian fielding is dropped out.

— yash (@Yashjr10) February 5, 2020

And we have Kedar Jadhav still part of ODI squad

— Aditya Amberkar (@aditya_amberkar) February 4, 2020

Picked India's future, 34 Y'O talented Kedar Jadhav instead of Rishabh Pant uno.

— . (@FtblSharique) February 5, 2020