Shikha Pandey, one of the most experienced players in the Indian cricket setup, was surprisingly missing from the players selected for the white-ball series against Bangladesh. This unexpected exclusion surprises many, considering the packed schedule ahead for the Indian team. Pandey’s absence raises questions, particularly given her recent successful stint in the inaugural Women’s T20 Challenge, where she emerged as the leading wicket-taker for the Delhi Capitals.
This is not the first time Pandey has been left out of the Indian side without any official reason. The right-arm pacer, also a valuable batter down the order, made a comeback to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup earlier this year in South Africa. However, she was inexplicably omitted from the central contract list and has not been considered for the ODIs and T20Is in Bangladesh.
In an interview with former Indian head coach WV Raman, Pandey opened up about her non-selection and expressed her frustration and disappointment. She admitted that it is difficult not to feel frustrated and angry when the results do not reflect the hard work she has put in. Despite the lack of clarity on her exclusion, Pandey remains committed to working hard and staying mentally and physically fit.
34-year-old Indian pacer said, “If I say I’m not frustrated and angry, then I’m not a human being. It’s difficult when you don’t get the results for the work that you have put in. I’m sure there’s some reason behind it which I do not know. What’s in my hands is hard work, and I’m a stout believer in hard work. So it’s just about working hard until I am mentally and physically fit.”
Pandey emphasized the importance of having good mentors during challenging periods in her career and expressed gratitude to WV Raman for his support. Pandey acknowledged her disappointment but recognized that the situation was out of her control. She remains determined to make decisions that will allow her to overcome this setback.
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“When I was dropped, I thought walking away from cricket was the right thing to do. Then it was suggested that it was an emotional period and I needed more time. You thought I still had a lot of cricket left in me and should play until I enjoyed the sport. I’m disappointed right now, but the situation I’m put in is out of my control; the decisions I take to get out of it are completely in my hands.” Pandey further mentioned.
🗣️ Shikha Pandey gets teary-eyed talking about the disappointment of not finding a place in the Indian team.
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) July 6, 2023
Watch the full interview with @wvraman here ➡️ https://t.co/9H20WnkoZG#WednesdaysWithWV | #WomensCricket pic.twitter.com/d5tJmro6SC
With 120 appearances for India across formats, Pandey has proven her worth, particularly in white-ball cricket, with her impressive bowling record. Her non-selection for the upcoming World Cup in 2022 was met with widespread criticism, but she was part of the T20 World Cup squad in South Africa earlier this year. Alongside Pandey, Renuka Singh and Richa Ghosh were the other notable names not included in the Indian squads for the Bangladesh tour.
