Sourav Ganguly is reportedly unhappy with the decision to make Ajinkya Rahane the vice-captain of the Indian Test team as the former India captain and BCCI president failed to understand the logic behind such a decision. He emphasized the importance of consistency in selection, highlighting the need to maintain a balance between rewarding performance and planning for the future of the Indian Test cricket team.
Rahane, who was out of the national cricket scene for almost one-and-a-half years, was recently reinstated in the Indian Test squad following a laudable performance in the World Test Championship final against Australia. He scored 89 and 46 runs, respectively, during the match, solidifying his position as India’s most successful batter in the final that took place at the Oval earlier this month. India, however, faced defeat following a dramatic collapse in their chase on the final day.
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Despite Rahane’s impressive comeback, his appointment as the vice-captain, a decision made by the national selection committee led by Shiv Sunder Das, has drawn criticism from Ganguly. Rahane, now aged 35, will serve as deputy to Rohit Sharma for the upcoming Test series against West Indies.
Ganguly questioned the committee’s decision during an exclusive interaction in London. He suggested that the committee should focus on grooming younger talents like Shubman Gill for such roles.
“I won’t say it’s a step backward,” Ganguly stated, commenting on Rahane’s sudden promotion. “You have been out for 18 months, then you play a Test and you become a vice-captain. I don’t understand the thought process behind it.”
Ganguly also mentioned Ravindra Jadeja, a seasoned player who has been a regular in Test matches, as a potential candidate for the vice-captaincy role. He further expressed his concern over the lack of consistency and continuity in the selection process.
The decision to exclude seasoned batter Cheteshwar Pujara in the recent team selection, despite his record of more than 100 Tests for India, has accentuated Ganguly’s concern. He insisted on clear communication with players of such stature and wants the selectors to ensure continuity in their decisions.