One of the most sensitive issues in Indian cricket continues to remain team selection. There are multiple power centers and vested interests that make a mountain of a molehill. Selection decisions have often created friction between team members. At times it has also percolated to the fans. These few controversial selections left a lot to be desired.
We look at 4 most controversial Indian team selections:
#4 Dropping seniors in ODI tours to Australia
MS Dhoni led India to the inaugural T20 World Cup win in 2007. He soon became the captain of the ODI side too. India had to tour Australia for a tri-series involving Sri Lanka. Dhoni made it clear that the team needs to move on from Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in the ODIs.
He wanted the likes of Gautam Gambhir to get a longer run. The cycle came a full circle in 2011-12. This time around Dhoni kept alternatively dropping Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar to accommodate Rohit Sharma in the playing XI. Both times, the decision created a furore among the Indian fans.
#3 Test team selections overseas in 2018
Three years since Virat Kohli took over as India’s Test captain, India proved to be untouchable at home. Kohli’s first real Test came in 2018. India went on an overseas sojourn touring South Africa, England, and Australia in the same year. Kohli-Ravi Shastri think tank preferred Rohit Sharma over Ajinkya Rahane in the first two Tests. The move proved to be costly as India lost both Tests.
They continued making such 50-50 calls when they played KL Rahul ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara in the first Test against England. India fielded Kuldeep Yadav ahead of a pacer in pace-friendly conditions at Lords in the second Test. They lost a hard-fought Test series 1-4.
#2 Team selections during the Dravid – Chappell era
The team camaraderie in the Rahul Dravid – Greg Chappell era was arguably at its lowest. There was a lot of insecurity surrounding players’ positions in the team. The seniors in the team were most vulnerable as they had to contend with form and fitness. Sourav Ganguly was at the epicenter of this drama. VVS Laxman was dropped citing team combination issue. Irfan Pathan was sent away mid-tour in West Indies. There was chaos all around.
#1 Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu
A fantastic IPL in 2018 paved open new avenues for Ambati Rayudu. He had amassed over 600 runs at 145+ strike rate to knock on the doors of national selection. Rayudu soon earned a call-up to the Indian team. Captain Kohli had publicly acknowledged that Rayudu is the batsman team is looking at for the number 4 position. Rayudu grew in confidence. He was proving to be the right man for the crucial spot.
In a series preceding the World Cup, Rayudu had an average outing against Australia. This prompted the Indian team to field a rookie allrounder at number 4. India chose Vijay Shankar over Ambati Rayudu as their number 4. Chief selector, MSK Prasad termed Shankar as a 3D player. The decision proved to be fatal as India lost a heartbreaking loss in the semis. It was the number 4 position that cost them the game. Indian fans are yet to come to terms with this selection horror!
