It is incorrect to choose a player for ODIs only based on their T20 and IPL performances, according to an ex-IND selector
The Aisa Cup 2023 is rapidly approaching, and it is clear that the Indian selectors are having trouble selecting their team for the competition. The selection committee, which is directed by Ajit Agarkar, has a tough task ahead of it since KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are injured, and experts advise bringing in Tilak Varma to provide the middle order the needed firepower.
Varma just made his T20Is debut against West Indies. Even though India lost the series, the left-hander, who finished as the top scorer with 173 runs in five games, was the greatest plus for the visiting team. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin and former head coach Ravi Shastri stated that a young Tilak Varma might be recruited to the squads for the Asia Cup and the next World Cup if Rahul and Shreyas are unable to get fit in time.
Former selector Saba Karim has called attention to a crucial point among the growing voices in favor of Tilak Varma. He has asked Agarkar and company to have “patience” and keep their eyes on the prize in order to prevent what happened with Vijay Shankar and Varun Chakravarthy in past World Cups, among others.
Ambati Rayudu was heavily favored to participate in the 50-over World Cup in England in 2019, but the MSK Prasad-led selection committee chose Shankar because he was a “3-D” player. The all-rounder did visit the United Kingdom and even onto the field against Pakistan before being injured in the middle of the match. Varun Chakravarthy met the same end a few years later. He was selected for the T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2021 but was ultimately benched following a string of subpar efforts.
“Unquestionably (on the concern of a scenario similar to Varun-Chakravarthy). I concur entirely. When selecting the final 15/18 for the Asia Cup, you must be very patient and consider the whole picture. However, the Asia Cup may provide the ideal stage. The selectors will want to choose their top 15, who may very well end up on the World Cup roster, according to Karim, who was reported by Hindustan Times.
“I thus believe that the rule for the Asia Cup will be to choose the top 15 players who they believe will participate in the World Cup, followed by the selection of the two more players. They would choose a wicketkeeper, a middle-order batsman, and one more for each of the two places if Iyer and Rahul are not well, he said.
Despite Tilak’s success in the T20 format, the ODIs have yet to put him to the test. Suryakumar has acknowledged that he has to push himself to improve and that he has yet to figure out the 50-over format in the blue jersey.
Regarding the selection of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, Karim said that the selectors also take into account a player’s local statistics. He also emphasized that it is not the best practice to choose players for ODIs based only on their IPL performance.
“We sometimes overlook the fact that guys, such as Suryakumar or Tilak, do put in performances in domestic cricket in the one-day format for a considerable amount of time. Additionally, if a player has excelled in the format on the local stage but lacks international experience while producing strong performances in T20I cricket, selectors will pay attention to them.
Therefore, both of these elements are taken into account. But if they solely consider T20 and IPL results when choosing a player for the ODI squad, that is incorrect,” he said.
