Former chief selector Syed Kirmani has expressed that the national selection panel under the leadership of MSK Prasad is not experienced enough to challenge the decisions of head coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli. Kirmani’s comments come in the wake of the controversy over the exclusion of Karun Nair and Murali Vijay from the Test squad.
Both Nair and Vijay shared that they didn’t have an apt communication with the selectors before or after being dropped, a claim that Prasad has dismissed by stating that both the batsmen were duly informed.
When asked about the selection row, Kirmani told PTI, “If you ask me Ravi Shastri is the main selector, being the coach. He along with the captain and senior members will discuss and put it (what they want) across to the selection committee. The current selection committee, with due respect, is inexperienced to these guys (Shastri and Kohli). And they better listen to what the team management wants because they cannot debate with Shastri and Kohli, who have much more experience.”
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The five-member panel is low on international playing experience with chief selector Prasad playing six Tests and 17 ODIs. The other four — Sarandeep Singh (2 Tests, 5 ODIs), Devang Gandhi (4 Tests, 3 ODIs), Jatin Paranjpe (4 ODIs) and Gagan Khoda (2 ODIs) — do not have enough experience in top-fight as well.
Among India’s finest wicket-keepers, Kirmani also shared his thoughts about Rishabh Pant, who has broken into the Test mainly on the basis of his batting and not his glove work. He said, “He is in the cradle of international cricket. What is unfortunate is no coach is talking about technique anymore. The youngsters are following the likes of Dhoni from the point of batting as well as keeping. In batting, he (Pant) can manage but in wicket-keeping, you have to follow a certain technique to have a good collection and anticipation. You got to have the agility, you got to have a good vision.”
Pointing out some of the technical faults of Pant in terms of wicket-keeping, Kirmani pointed out that he stands up before the ball is bowled by a spinner. He also shared the importance of agility and anticipation for a wicket-keeper.
Kirmani explained, “He has to be crouching down, he has to wait till the ball pitches and then react. After that, he has to move according to the swing, bounce. Wicket-keeper’s ability is judged only when he is standing up to spinners. You have a fraction of a second out there for these three-four coordinates to synchronize for a good collection in the form of stumping or a catch.”
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Former Indian wicket-keeper also said that Dhoni’s talent is undisputed and rare but youngsters shouldn’t be copied by the youngsters. He explained, “He has to go right behind the stumps, not what Dhoni does (sometimes he takes it from ahead of stumps). Pant is following him. You have to get behind in line with the stumps, your eye level should be in line with the bails to see where the ball is pitching so that you can judge it better. Just by telling it is not right. It has to be shown in action. So far I have not been invited by anyone to coach a wicketkeeper or talk to him. I feel very disappointed. My experience is going waste.”
