Recently, Gautam Gambhir, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, and former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad got involved in a debate based on various topics regarding Indian Cricket. They also talked about Ambati Raydu’s controversial exclusion from India’s 2019 World Cup squad.
Gambhir shared his thoughts suggestion on how a captain should be heavily involved in the selection process. Former chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad responded to Gambhir’s suggestion and reasoned why a captain does not have a vote in the selection procedure.
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Speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Connected, Gambhir said, “The time has come for the captain to be a selector as well. The captain and coach should be made the selectors, and the selectors should have no say in the playing XI. The captain and coach can’t shrug off the responsibility of the selected team.”
MSK Prasad responded with, “A captain always has a say in the selection process. There are no two ways about it. He may not have a vote. Our bylaws clearly state that the captain has a say but he doesn’t have a vote in the selection process.”
Gambhir also bought up the controversial ‘Ambati Rayudu fiasco’ of their 2019 World Cup. Rayudu was ignored from the World Cup squad in favor of Vijay Shankar by the MSK Prasad-led committee.
Gambhir questioned, “They couldn’t find the no. 4. One position they had to identify and they could not do that. Look at what happened to Ambati Rayudu – you picked him for two years. Two years, he batted at no. 4. And just before the World Cup, you needed a 3-D? Is that the kind of statement you want to see from a chairman selector that we need a 3-D cricketer?”
Defending his selection, Prasad said, “Let me clarify, at the top, everyone was a batsman – Shikhar, Rohit, Virat. There was nobody who could bowl. And someone like Vijay Shankar, who bats at the top order, could be helpful with the ball in the English conditions.”
K Srikkanth also joined in the talk and said, “Not supporting Gautam or belittling you MSK but there is a huge difference between international cricket and domestic cricket.”
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“I agree with Chika that there is a difference but you also have to understand that experience cannot be the only parameter all the time. You may miss out on players in the process,” Prasad said.
