The recent team selection for the upcoming series against West Indies, scheduled to begin on July 12, has ignited a wave of criticism from several former cricketers. Many believe consistent domestic performers have been overlooked, leading to disappointment among fans and players. Notably, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Ahmed and Bengal player Abhimanyu Easwaran have been the focal points of this discussion.
Sarfaraz Ahmed and Abhimanyu Easwaran have displayed remarkable consistency in their domestic performances. Sarfaraz, in particular, has amassed an impressive 2,566 runs in the last three seasons of the Ranji Trophy, averaging 106. Easwaran, the captain of the India A squad, possesses a wealth of experience from almost 90 first-class matches. In the Ranji Trophy alone, he has scored 2,890 runs since the 2017/18 edition, boasting an outstanding average of 62.79.
However, the selection committee opted for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad instead of Sarfaraz and Easwaran. While Jaiswal averages 49.34 in the Ranji Trophy, Gaikwad has an average of 42.92. It is worth noting that Jaiswal and Gaikwad enjoyed a successful IPL campaign, which some believe played a significant role in their selection for the Test squad.
In an interview with Sportskeeda, he acknowledged his slight disappointment but remained confident that he would receive the recognition he deserves shortly. Easwaran emphasized his unwavering passion for the game and his determination to never give up on his dream of representing the country. He expressed his positive outlook, stating that he would continue working hard on his game and remain prepared for future opportunities.
“It’s natural to be a little disappointed. But when you have such a big dream, that passion overpowers everything. I tell myself, and I have this inside me, that I will never give up. Until I play cricket, I will always aim to play for the country. So I want to focus on that. And I am positive about that opportunity coming pretty soon, and I just want to work hard on my game and focus on whatever tournaments I play. I want to be ready for the day I get picked, and I just want to give it my best every day I play cricket,” said Easwaran.
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Although Easwaran was part of the Indian squad as a backup opener during the tours of England and Bangladesh in 2022, he has not made it to the squad since then. Nevertheless, he remains committed to his goal of playing for the country and is focused on giving his best in every match he plays.
The selection controversy surrounding the West Indies series highlights the ongoing debate regarding team selection between IPL performances and consistent domestic performances. As fans and ex-cricketers express their discontent, the BCCI faces scrutiny and the challenge of balancing the selection process to ensure deserving players are given opportunities to represent the national team.
