IND vs SL series: Ex-selector feels Shreyas Iyer & Hanuma Vihari’s form led to Rahane-Pujara EXIT- check out – Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were dropped from the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a string of poor performances as well as some good batting displays from youngsters like Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari in whatever opportunities they have got lately. Follow IND VS SL Series updates on Insidesport.IN
“Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are very senior cricketers. They are performing well for a long time. If the team is winning then a lot of things are hidden but when it is losing then a lot of things come right in front of you. In that way, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane got dropped because when Shreyas Iyer got the opportunity he scored a century on debut and then he had to wait for his turn after going overseas. Same with Hanuma Vihari as he did well in Australia and SA tour matches.
IND vs SL series: Ex-selector feels Shreyas Iyer & Hanuma Vihari’s form led to Rahane-Pujara EXIT- check out
“If you make youngsters sit who are scoring runs then it is not good. You have to tell the senior players to go back to domestic cricket and score runs but if they score runs and youngsters fail then you won’t go back to the senior players. You will go to some other youngsters to have a look. The doors are not closed but the road to comeback is indeed tough for them,” Singh said.
Two more names who faced the axe from the Test squad were experienced pace bowler Ishant Sharma and wicket-keeper batter Wriddhiman Saha.
“Ishant Sharma’s name missing from Test squad was surprising as he was performing well. For a long time now it never seemed that his pace has gone down or he is not able to take wickets. He sat out in all the Test matches in South Africa which was surprising to me. You try youngsters but youngsters are not tried for the South Africa series.
IND vs SL series: Ex-selector feels Shreyas Iyer & Hanuma Vihari’s form led to Rahane-Pujara EXIT- check out
“There you give chances to experienced players. The way we have lost the series also makes a lot of difference. Since Rishabh Pant is playing so Wriddhiman Saha was expected to be dropped and the team will go with a youngster. KS Bharat has been given a chance. When we were on the selection committee then also he was doing well. Now, instead of 37-38, you need to give an opportunity to 23-24 or 25 years old because they can contribute to the team for the next ten years. So, it is important to back them as youngsters,” he said.
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