‘He has to play a couple of One-Day series before…’ – Former selector gives his view on Indian youngster’s place in team
The Indian squad for the 2023 Asia Cup raised eyebrows for the inclusion of a couple of cricketers and the exclusion of some of the regulars in the team. Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson, who have been in and around the Indian ODI side on a regular basis since 2022, were excluded from the Indian squad for the tournament, which was criticized by many.
On the other hand, the selectors gave an opportunity for Suryakumar Yadav, who has not been in good form in ODIs since 2022. The fact that a better batter and a wicketkeeper like Sanju Samson was not picked for the series over someone like Suryakumar Yadav raised a lot of questions. Fans, former cricketers, and experts questioned the thought process of the Indian selectors.
While Yadav’s selection was controversial, there was another selection, which was equally controversial. The 20-year-old Tilak Varma was selected in the Indian squad for the Asia Cup, he has not yet debuted in ODIs. The surprise selection of Varma raised the eyebrows of many. While some felt that the selectors did the right thing, others felt that it was a bit too early to pick the youngster in the ODI side.
‘Do not give Tilak Varma a debut in a big tournament’ – Former Indian selector
Talking about the same, the former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth gave his opinion. The former Indian selector felt Tilak should play the ODI series before making a debut in big tournaments. “Do not give Tilak Varma a debut in a big tournament, play him in the ODI series before that. Tilak Varma is promising. Asia Cup is a big opportunity for him,” said Kris Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
Srikkanth backed the youngster for his potential. “We saw some real promise not only in terms of performances but also temperament during the T20I series against West Indies. This will give him exposure. Tilak has fantastic potential, a brilliant player — but he has to play a couple of one-day series before putting him in the WC squad. We need to groom him properly,” added Srikkanth.
