Indian selectors and skipper Rohit Sharma faced massive criticism for excluding in-form Suryakumar Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan from the team's playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Indian selectors and skipper Rohit Sharma faced massive criticism for excluding in-form Suryakumar Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan from the team's playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Ahead of the games, Rohit Sharma made it clear that he will open alongside Shubman Gill and not Kishan, who scored a double hundred in his last innings in the 50-over format. The captain also confirmed that world's number one T20 batter, Suryakumar Yadav, will not be part of the playing XI, with Shreyas Iyer being the preferred choice.
Also read: IND vs SL 2022-23, 1st ODI: Suryakumar Yadav axed from playing XI as Lanka opts to chase
KL Rahul, who has struggled with the bat in recent games, was picked as the team's designated wicketkeeper for the clash against the Lankans.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif was displeased with Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan's not featuring in the Guwahati ODI.
"Slightly uncomfortable with the prospect of watching an Indian team today without last ODI's double hundred scorer, Ishan Kishan, and last T20's centurion Suryakumar Yadav. Hope they remain motivated," Kaif tweeted.
Slightly uncomfortable with the prospect of watching an Indian team today without last ODI's double hundred scorer, Ishan Kishan, and last T20's centurion Suryakumar Yadav. Hope they remain motivated.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)Ishan Kishan's in his last ODI - 210(131)
Suryakumar Yadav in his last match - 112*(51) [T20I]
Both are on bench for the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
📸: Disney + Hotstar pic.twitter.com/fvoIE38fQb
Meanwhile, former pacer Venkatesh Prasad has criticised the exclusion of Ishan Kishan, saying "there is no way you drop a player for scoring a double hundred".
"Think fair would have been to give chance to a man who scored a double hundred in India's last ODI, and in a series where India lost two games and the series. Have all the time in the world for Gill, but no way you drop a player for scoring a double ton," Prasad said in a series of tweets.
Think fair would have been to give chance to a man who scored a double hundred in India’s last ODI, and in a series where India lost two games and the series.
Have all the time in the world for Gill, but no way you drop a player for scoring a double ton. https://t.co/LbzKKH8ynw
Playing only his 10th ODI, Kishan scored the fastest double hundred in ODI cricket history last month against Bangladesh. Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India, also feels mediocrity is being preferred over "x-factor" in the current setup.
"There is a reason we have underperformed in limited overs cricket. Constant chopping and changing, and a guy who does brilliantly and is an X factor is dropped and mediocrity retained. In Eng, Pant scored a hundred in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However, based on the T20 form was dropped from the ODI team. KL Rahul, on the other hand barring a couple of innings, has failed consistently but retains his place. Performance is not the foremost parameter. Sad," the 53-year-old added.
In Eng, Pant scored a hundred in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However based on T20 form was dropped from ODI team. KL Rahul on the other hand barring a couple of innings has failed consistently but retains his place.Performance is not the foremost parameter. Sad
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad)Here's a look at how Indian fans reacted to Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan's exclusion from Tuesday's clash:
Very Disappointed with playing 11
Fed-up with
Why No
Why in Team? ruining carriers of good deserving players
FastBowlers of same category, wher r swing bowlers
Suryakumar Yadav not being a part of the ODI team defies any and every cricketing logic.
— Kunal (@kunaljoshi93)I am shocked that Suryakumar was not played while KL Rahul was given a chance again.
— Nikita Dubey 🇮🇳 (@NikitaMalviya04)KL Rahul in ODI 11 over Suryakumar is a crime against humanity! 🤢🤢🤢😬😭 https://t.co/A1gPgKNm1j
— IndianBoba (@indianboba)There is no joy in watching cricket anymore… They have commercialised the game.. They made it all batsmen’s game by changing laws and pitches… Batsmen like Suryakumar is applauded not for technique n temperament but because they can smash ball,its like watching baseball.
— Rayhaan (@RayhaanTweets) Senior Citizen India team playing today!
Suryakumar and Ishant deserved the spot 😞😞
This cannot be the world cup team!
Suryakumar should have been in the team as he's in the form of his life. https://t.co/Vb0pYJneIv
— Adv. & Er. Rajesh Shah🚩🇮🇳🇮🇳🚩 (@drishti16966)The two who have been dropped today! Ishan and Suryakumar Yadav! pic.twitter.com/1I7s9AFMhZ
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant)Dropping SuryaKumar now is a sin but it seems captain & coach will drop every player who have been backed by selectors in T20 format.
Ishan & Surya were preferred over Rohit and KL Rahul in T20 and now they both have been dropped.
This is clear case of Vendetta
Bad selections… is a specialist wicketkeeper and left handed opener while is in great form. Story of Indian cricket team selection across formats when is in charge…just to accommodate …. https://t.co/nLeX0f12C5
— Rahul Mahajani (@rahul_mahajani)No Suryakumar & Ishan in the playing XI bcoz they bat too fast for ODI cricket and make other legendary batsmen look bad.👍🏻 https://t.co/sKOiNzzXMH
— Sumit (@_RKSumit)I think a first round exit in the next world cup is the only way we get rid of Kohli, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma and get a team that can actually win us the WC. https://t.co/Be4fVyc2ap
— Mc Adams me hun ! Mark idhar hai (@Balancing_Actor)The audacity! Can't imagine any other team having the courage to leave SKY out! https://t.co/jddu4TwTsm
— Mohit Agarwal (@BeingMohitAg)This is why India don’t win ICC tournaments. https://t.co/sxvSje7dzU
— Mohamed Zeeshan (@ZeeMohamed_)Should've picked both in place of Gill and KL, pathetic selection. https://t.co/8n9yiad9Qb
— 🕉️ (@RSD270)shame on bcci and captain and coach for not picking ishan & surya
— EminentIT guy (@piyush66501861)It's infuriating to see KL Rahul play in the XI and Suryakumar and Ishan Kishan not.
Extremely incompetent team selection!
KL Rahul has once again been picked over double centurion Ishan Kishan and India’s best limited overs player, Suryakumar Yadav.
I don’t care if KL makes 200 today or 3000 runs in 2023 - it’s APPALLING that he continues to find a place in this XI.
Not sure why KL Rahul should be given chance ahead of Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan
— Sreerama Villa (@SreeramVilla)What happens when any indian players perform and in next match-
Kuldeep took 5 wkts: Dropped
Ishan kishan made 200: Dropped
Suryakumar made 100: Dropped
Biggest fraud in Indian Cricket
KL Rahul and Rahul Dravid
Why India have dropped Ishan in ODI after his double century and in-form Suryakumar Yadav?
Rohit Sharma continues backing KL Rahul. Is it good friendship?
Ishan should Play in place of KL Rahul but honestly tell me one thing where does Suryakumar fit in the team? Do we remove Iyer because he is the most performing guy for India recently. And to be honest in ODIs Gill has done a good Job recently.
— Siddharthsinh Borana (@SiddharthsinhB9)Ishan Kishan- OUT
Suryakumar Yadav- OUT
K L RAHUL- IN
OH NO! NOT AGAIN! 😎
India is going to bottle this HOME WC. Ishan Kishan should be opening and keeper. Suryakumar should be batting at 5. FCKING Hell
— IndianBoba (@indianboba)No Ishan, No Surya in first ODI, Bollywood ban ke baad ab BCCI ban ki taiyari
— Jignesh Patel 🇮🇳 (@jigneshpatelj3c)No place in final eleven for Last ODI double centurian Ishan Kishan and Last T20 centurian Surya Kumar Yadav .
What a drama! What's happening in team selection???
If India can’t fit 200 scorer Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav just to fit in Kl Rahul that is nothing but sad for our cricket. What has he done in past few tours that he is considered as permanent. This will cost us in our future campaigns
— Whodo (@guesswho_people)It is a SHAME that performance is not the criteria anymore to be in Playing XI 👿
With NO Ishan Kishan & Suryakumar Yadav In XI & OUT OF FORM KL Rahul in XI, prove my point 😠😠