Mayank, Shubman, Saha, Jadhav: Questions For MSK Prasad to Answer

Despite MSK Prasad clarifying doubts over several controversial selection choices, many questions remain unanswered.

After their semi-final exit in the recently concluded Cricket World Cup in England And Wales, Team India is gearing up for their next assignment – the one-month long tour of West Indies. India will play three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests in the Caribbean. And the team for the same was announced on Sunday, 21 July.

After announcing the sides for the limited leg as well as the Tests, chairman of selectors MSK Prasad addressed a press conference, answering questions on the World Cup as well as the West Indies tour selection.

Despite clarifying doubts over several controversial selection choices, many questions remain unanswered:

Mayank Agarwal: Good Enough for WC but Not Windies Series

Prasad explained in his press conference why Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal were sent to England, to replace injured Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar in the World Cup.

The chief selector explained the reason behind the strange decision – of sending opening batsman Mayank Agarwal as replacement for Vijay Shankar in the middle-order.

“When Shankar was injured, Rahul had a big fall at the boundary, so there was an uncertainty on whether he will continue or not. At that time, a written communication was given that a back-up opener was needed. That is when we went with Mayank.”

MSK Prasad, Chairman of Selectors

This raises some pertinent questions:

1. If Mayank, who is yet to make his ODI debut, can be selected as replacement for a high-profile tournament like the World Cup, why isn’t he good enough to make the cut for the West Indies tour?
2. Prasad said Mayank is part of their ‘future plan.’ But the thing is, Mayank is already 27-years-old. If he is not part of the ODI set-up by now, isn’t it be too late for him?
3. If the team had asked for a back-up opener, wasn’t the more experienced Ajinkya Rahane a better option? Not only is he a specialist opener, he also has the experience of playing in England?

As an opener, Rahane has scored 1,937 runs in 54 innings, including three centuries and 15 half-centuries. The last time Rahane opened was in 2017, in a series against Australia, where he scored four consecutive half-centuries.

If needed, Rahane could have also batted down the order at number four or five. And more importantly, was already present in England – playing for Hampshire – during the World Cup.

Pant or Saha: Who is the Wicket-Keeper in Tests?

In the Test side, Pant was named along with senior wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, who is making a comeback to the side after recovering from an injury.

Prasad mentioned two things regarding Pant. Firstly, that Pant would play in all three formats for India. And secondly, to manage Pant’s workload, Saha and KS Bharath will be at their disposal.

Regarding Saha’s selection, Prasad said: “We have an unwritten norm that when an established cricketer is injured, he (Saha) should get a comeback opportunity. That’s what we have given to Saha.”

Prasad’s clarification regarding Saha gives rise to few more questions, which remain unanswered:

1. If Pant is playing the Test series and Saha has been selected to make a Test return, then who will be behind the stumps during the Test series?
2. If Saha is selected as the wicket-keeper for the Test matches then will Pant, who hit Test centuries in England and Australia, make it to the playing XI at all? If he does, then what will be his role?
3. If Saha fails to make it to the playing XI, then how is he expected to make a comeback? If Saha was never going to get an opportunity to play then why not bring in young Bharath, who has had an outstanding Ranji season?

If Jadhav Can, Why Not Karthik?

Whenever India’s middle-order got an opportunity in the World Cup to prove their mettle, they only managed to disappoint. Whether it was the match against Afghanistan or the chase against England, the Indian middle-order, including Kedar Jadhav, failed to rise to the occasion.

Jadhav might have scored a half-century against Afghanistan but it was really dull batting. As far as bowling is concerned, Jadhav bowled only 6 overs in 6 matches without taking any wickets.

When Dinesh Karthik was part of the playing XI in two matches, instead of Jadhav, he too failed to impress. Under these circumstances, two questions arise:

1. Karthik got only two opportunities to bat, whereas Jadhav was given six chances. Both failed to step up with the bat. So, if both Jadhav and Karthik are guilty of poor performances, then why only Karthik is facing the brunt?
2. Prasad said that Jadhav didn’t do anything wrong in England – to not be included in the ODI squad for the Windies tour. In that respect, what wrong did Karthik do to be dropped from the team?

Keeping the Future Roadmap in Mind

Prasad mentioned the ‘future roadmap’ plan quite a number of times during Sunday’s press conference. As far as the T20I squad is concerned, we did see the execution of the plan, but the implementation was absent from the ODI squad.

Karthik, 34, was excluded from the ODI squad but Jadhav, 34, kept his place. The duo failed during the World Cup and Prasad offered this explanation:

“We had some plans till the World Cup. But after the World Cup, we have decided to give more opportunities to youngsters, who would go on to play for India for a longer period.”     

When asked why 31-year-old Rahane, who is a better batsman than Jadhav, wasn’t selected, Prasad said:

“Rahane is in the scheme of things but we had to reward India ‘A’ players for their performances... so, that’s why Rahane didn’t get a chance.”     

The reasons behind Karthik and Rahane’s exclusion give rise to more fundamental questions, for which Prasad didn’t offer a clarification:

1. If players are selected keeping the future in mind, why has 34-year-old Jadhav retained his spot despite his World Cup failure? Why wasn’t, then, Shubman Gill an automatic selection?
2. If India ‘A’ performances were taken into consideration, why did Gill, who won the Man of the Match for his batting performance in the West Indies A series, not make the cut?

Prasad later went on to say that Gill is part of the batting list and will get opportunities in the future.

But the question here is, if we continue with old players then how will the future roadmap be implemented?