Former India cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh questioned the Indian team management, asking how was Harshit Rana picked in the squad without proving his fitness.
“How did Harshit Rana get selected directly to the Indian team without proving his fitness anywhere after surgery? If you haven’t fully recovered from a knee surgery, then it leads to a hamstring or quad injury next, as has happened with him. It’s clear he didn’t return to the Indian team at 100 per cent fitness. It’s just an evidence on how there are different yardsticks for different players. India will produce results again only if they correct this issue,” Ramesh said on his YouTube channel.
“The fact they rested him for the Zimbabwe tour and the squad was announced before this injury made it clear that they rested him knowing that he won’t be able to play back-to-back series. This is not about Harshit Rana’s ability,” he said.
The former India opener also slammed the think-tank for replacing an injured Varun Chakaravarthy with Washington Sundar when they had the option of playing Ravi Bishnoi in the fourth T20I against England.
“India were forced to play him (Sundar) despite England having only two left-handers because of Varun Chakaravarthy’s injury. It’s also clear that India don’t trust Ravi Bishnoi,” said Ramesh
After India lost the fourth T20I in Bristol by nine wickets and also conceded the series, India’s new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer tried to pass on the team’s poor show as a ‘transition phase’.
“Absolutely. See, this is the transition phase and we will be making lot of mistakes. You see a lot of youngsters playing here in these conditions for the first time. So mistakes will definitely make them realise how important it is to adapt and have that awareness when you come in the overseas conditions,” Shreyas said after the game.
“Certainly. It’s important that you learn quickly from your mistakes so that the team also benefits eventually out of it. And I’m sure that there are quick learners in the team. I’m sure they will assess themselves and get back stronger in the next game,” he added.
