BCCI’s squad announcement: Prithvi Shaw, Umesh Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and Nitish Rana cry foul

Chetan Sharma-led All-India Senior Selection Committee named squads for New Zealand and Bangladesh tour, scheduled right after the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia. Interestingly, this was the first squad announcement since the appointment of former Indian cricketer Roger Binny as the BCCI president.

Much to everyone’s expectations, seniors like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and a few others have been rested from the white-ball series in New Zealand, while the full-strength squad will return for two Test matches against Bangladesh. Indian selectors have placed their bet on Hardik Pandya and Shikhar Dhawan to lead the squad in three-match T20Is and ODIs, respectively.

Players like Sanju Samson, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Md Siraj, Rajat Patidar and a few others were included in the squad on the back of impressive performances in the domestic circuit.

While the squad announcement brought smiles to many faces, it also caused heartbreak to a few talented cricketers. Mumbai batter Prithvi Shaw, veteran pacer Umesh Yadav, leggy Ravi Bishnoi and middle-order batter Nitish Rana expressed their disappointment over the exclusion from both tours.

The 22-year-old Shaw has been in a sensational form in the domestic circuit; the prolific batter scored 355 runs in six matches in Ranji Trophy and seven in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches, he amassed 285 runs at 47.50 at a strike rate of 191.27. In his Insta story, Prithvi Shaw posted an emotional message ‘Hope you are watching everything SAI BABA‘ after the Indian selectors named the squad.

Meanwhile, Ravi Bishnoi, who was sensational in the Indian Premier League and was among the reserve players in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022, was also overlooked for New Zealand and Bangladesh tour. The 22-year-old has so far played ten T20 internationals and picked 16 wickets, conceding 274 runs. In his only one-day international, Bishnoi picked only one wicket at an economy of 8.62. Disappointed with the selection, Bishnoi wrote, “Come back is always stronger than the setback.“

Regular in the Indian squad, experienced Umesh Yadav too posted a cryptic Insta story with a note, “Maybe you can fool me, but God is watching you mind that.”

Last of all, Kolkata Knight Riders’ middle-order batter Nitish Rana too, let his dissent felt with a relatively optimistic post as he wrote, “Hope hold, pain ends.”

Chances will come: Chetan Sharma, Chairman, All-India Senior Selection Committee

According to Chetan Sharma, Chairperson of the All-India Senior Selection Committee, Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Ahmed will get chances very soon as they are under the close watch of the selectors. Post-announcement, Sharma was asked about excluding Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Ahmed from the tour despite their brilliant batting display.

Chetan Sharma on Prithvi Shaw:

We are looking at him; he is doing well. There is nothing wrong with it at all. We have to look at the set-up; we are trying to give chances to those who are performing and are already part of the set-up. So he will get his chances very soon the way he is batting; even whenever we are there for matches, we talk to him.

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Chetan Sharma on Sarfaraz Ahmed:

We are giving him opportunities where possible. He was given a chance in India A squad. He is a brilliant player, and selectors are constantly in touch with him, but inclusion in the squad demands a vacant spot in the team. Sarfaraz is a phenomenal batter who has shown his potential in the domestic games. He is not far away. Sarfaraz has done his job and he is a serious contender; he will definitely get a chance very soon.  

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