 "Gautam Gambhir and BCCI selectors have been criticised for the Test squad picked for India's tour to England. Image: Reuters")
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has accused the Indian men’s cricket team selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir of picking players on gut feeling rather than on past performances. Former Indian batter Manjrekar sighted the omission of Sarfaraz Khan from the squad for the England tour while making his case.
Sarfaraz Khan made two fifties on his debut against England in February 2024. He also smashed 150 in the second innings against New Zealand in Bengaluru in a losing cause. However, scored only 21 runs in the next four innings as he lost his place in the playing XI.
Sarfaraz Khan did not feature in a single Test match in Australia as India lost the five-Test series 3-1 and had been dropped from the squad in favour of Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair.
Manjrekar questions BCCI’s slection policy
Manjrekar feels Sarfaraz has been undone by the current dispensation, including head coach Gambhir and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection panel, which is headed by Ajit Agarkar.
“Under Gautam Gambhir’s stewardship and with Rohit not there anymore, I see a tendency in this management to pre-empt performances of individuals while making selections,” Manjrekar wrote in his column for Hindustan Times.
“As in, the dominating thought here is to apply their own view of the likely success and failure of players depending on conditions and opposition,” he added.
Manjrekar added that Sarfaraz Khan was dropped because “someone important” felt he would not score runs in England.
“Take the example of Sarfraz Khan. Three fifties and a 150 at home in four Tests and failures in only four innings after that and Sarfaraz does not get a single game in Australia,” Manjrekar said.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“For the England tour too, he has been left out despite his performances in recent times outweighing Karun Nair’s completely. So, this non-selection is not about performance, it’s about someone important in the leadership group thinking Sarfaraz will not get runs in England and Australia, and Karun Nair will.”
India’s five-Test tour of England starts in Leeds on 20 June. Shubman Gill has been declared the captain for the tour while Rishabh Pant will be his deputy.