Indian Selection Blues Continue !

The Indian team for the test series against Sri Lanka has been announced today. The selectors surprised not only the media and people, but cricketers also. Picking Murali Vijay ahead of Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik makes little sense. Why is Murali Vijay being given so many chances, in T20’s, ODI’s and now in Tests. Yusuf Pathan despite his T20 heroics and a Ranji Mega Innings to his name, is never given a chance to play in Tests. On the other hand, VVS Laxman, who is a proven performer was always sidelined for ODI’s. But relatively new entrant Vijay is strangely being presented with awful number of oppurtunities.

Anoher selection mystery is picking Wriddhiman Saha ahead of Dinesh Karthik. Karthik has recently won the Man of the Match award in a crucial final encounter against the Lankans. What can poor karthik do but for continue performing forever without being noticed by the selectors.

On the bowling front, just when India looked to having a settled pace attack in Zaheer, Praveen and Nehra, the selectors decided to surprise everybody. Recall Ishant and Sreesanth to replace men in form Nehra and Praveen. Ishant and Sreesanth are rare talent and can be devastating on their day. But dropping in form cricketers, bowlers in particular, is a demoralising act.

Finally, one positive comment regarding the spinners. It has variety, experience and competition. Amit Mishra has Piyush Chawla and Pragyan Ojha has Murali Karthik in waiting. So both would be striving to perform, and ofcourse we have an influential allrounder in Harbhajan Singh!