The recent announcement of the Test and ODI squads by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the upcoming tour of West Indies has sparked discussions and raised eyebrows. While the ODI squad has garnered some attention, it is the red-ball squad that has caused the most debate.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been a key player for India in Test cricket, was omitted from the squad due to his recent string of underwhelming performances. This decision did not come as a surprise to many fans, who anticipated such a move from the BCCI. However, Pujara’s exclusion did not sit well with certain cricket experts.
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Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar criticized the selectors for using Pujara as a scapegoat to divert attention from the failures of other players in Test cricket. Joining in the defense of Pujara, legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh accused the selectors of biased selection.
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“Pujara’s absence worries me. He is a crucial player and the backbone of the team. I hope he is given a rest rather than being dropped. If he is dropped, it raises questions about the performances of other batsmen as well. The same criteria should be applied to all players,” stated Harbhajan.
Harbhajan further emphasized that if Pujara is not considered a key player, then the same logic should be applied to other players as well. He highlighted that while Pujara has had a challenging last 1.5 years, other players have comparable figures and performances.
The comments from Harbhajan Singh shed light on the perceived bias in the selection process and the concern over Pujara’s exclusion. The debate surrounding Pujara’s omission continues to generate discussions among cricket enthusiasts.