Wasim Jaffer defends Team India's Selection in the Second Test

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has dismissed criticism over the Indian team selection for the second Test in Centurion. Jaffer admitted that team management should be respected for its decision and criticism should be done directed only after the series.

A lot of criticism was hurled towards the team management after they decided to keep Ajinkya Rahane out of the playing XI and dropped first Test hero Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the must-win second Test.

“You got to leave those decisions to the captain and the coaches. They are very experienced players, and they won’t do any selection to harm the side. They know what they are doing; they are answerable to the team as well as the whole nation. You got to leave it until the end of the series to ask questions,” Jaffer told reporters yesterday.

Jaffer further admitted India was unlucky to get a tough pitch during the first Test at Newlands.

“I think we were a little unfortunate (with) the kind of wicket we got. I don’t think we were outplayed; it’s just that probably one good innings would have made us go top in the series. But you have to give it to the South African bowlers as well. It was a very testing wicket, even their batsmen failed. They play on these kinds of wickets all the time. It is not that we have lost very handsomely. We came very close, and we were in the game all the while,” he added.

However, the 39-year-old Jaffer is hopeful that India will come back strongly in the remainder of the series.

“We are in a very strong position. We made a very good comeback on the first day evening when (Hashim) Amla got run out, and we got six wickets. We have bowled them out; now we need to bat really well. This wicket will suit our batsmen.

“Most of them have played in South Africa. They have been there and (in) other countries like Australia, England and New Zealand; they know what to do. They just need time in the middle. I think if we get 500 plus in this innings, I see India levelling the series,” Jaffer signed off.

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