The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the squads for the India tour of Australia with KL Rahul, Navdeep Saini and Mohammad Siraj being included in India’s 18-member squad for the Test series against Australia. India and Australia will play three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests against each other from next month.
In the meantime, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has slammed the selectors for setting a bad example for players who are doing well in the domestic circuit. Manjrekar feels it is massively unfair on Ranji players to see Rahul, who has failed to perform in his last few Tests, getting selected in the Test squad on the basis of his IPL performances.
Rahul is currently the Orange Cap holder as he is the leading run-scorer in the ongoing IPL 2020.
“You set a bad precedent when you recall a player for Tests on IPL performance. Especially if the player has been an abject failure in his last few Tests. Whether that player succeeds or fails is irrelevant, such selections massively demotivate Ranji players,” Manjrekar tweeted.
You set a bad precedent when you recall a player for Tests on IPL performance. Especially if the player has been an abject failure in his last few Tests. Whether that player succeeds or fails is irrelevant, such selections massively demotivate Ranji players. #INDvsAUS
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 27, 2020
Rahul was dropped from India’s Test squad after a forgettable series in West Indies last year, where he scored just 101 runs in four innings. He was not even picked for the India A tour of New Zealand earlier this year.
“KL Rahul in his last 5 Test series – v SA – Avg 7.1, – v Eng – Avg 29, – v WI at home – Avg 18, – v Aus – Avg 10.7, – v WI – Avg 25.4, I say very lucky to get a recall based on IPL and white ball performance. But now let’s just hope he makes the most of this chance. Good luck to him!” Manjrekar said in another tweet while putting out Rahul’s performance in last five-Test series.
KL Rahul in his last 5 Test series
– v SA – Avg 7.1
– v Eng – Avg 29
– v WI at home – Avg 18
– v Aus – Avg 10.7
– v WI – Avg 25.4
I say very lucky to get a recall based on IPL & white ball performance. But now let’s just hope he makes the most of this chance. Good luck to him! https://t.co/YBVbeut5jH— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 27, 2020
Overall, Rahul has played 36 Tests in which he has scored 2006 runs, including five tons and 11 half-centuries.
