The depth in India’s T20I team for the Asia Cup, according to former New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, allowed the national selectors to omit a player of Shreyas Iyer’s caliber, who was left out for the continental event.
Iyer, who had an impressive domestic season and also led his IPL franchise Punjab Kings into the final, failed to find a place in the 15-member squad announced earlier this week.
“I haven’t seen the side yet so can’t say. (But) when you can leave that type of quality out, you’ve got to be pretty comfortable with the depth of your squad,” Taylor told PTI Videos on the sidelines of a CLT10 League event.
He also lauded new Test skipper Shubman Gill, who led India to 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
“It was a great series against England, whenever you go in the foreign conditions in Test cricket, especially these days, you have to take it very well. He has played in great spirits and led from the front,” Taylor said.
One of New Zealand’s all-time great batters, Taylor will turn out for the Supreme Stallions in the CLT10 League.
“It has gone full circle started playing with the tennis ball and now finishing my career playing with the tennis ball, it’s a great concept of 10 overs,” Taylor said.
“The way these players go out and expresses themselves there, it is an opportunity to go out and showcase their talent and I am sure that as the tournament goes on we will get to know about these players even more,” he added.
Former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik called the treatment of the middle-order batsman “unfair” and voiced surprise at Iyer’s omission.
“Where is Shreyas Iyer? That’s the big question, isn’t it? How could he miss out? To a point, it’s understandable. He wasn’t part of the 15, considering how well Team India has done. 17 out of the last 20, they have won, so okay, continuity, fair. But not making him part of the other five players, which you have earmarked for the near future, with the T20 World Cup in mind?” Karthik said in a video posted on Instagram.
“Closing doors on him? That’s a bit unfair, and I hope it doesn’t happen because he has done outstandingly well as a leader, but even better as a batter under pressure,” he added.
