I too find it ridiculous that stars nowadays skip domestic tournaments. In a few years, people will stop playing Ranji altogether. Whatever happened to Dravid-Laxman ruling that we will ensure a player goes through the grind in order to be eligible for selection? Unsanctioned reports also stating that Bumrah will be in the side for the Irish T20 whereas Pant will be drafted into the World Cup squad. Ridiculous!
Sour grapes!
I am sorry, but I cannot believe Ambati Rayadu here. Rayudu has always been a spoilt brat- joining ICL ,announcing retirement just cause he wasn't selected. If some parts of the story are true, then Rayudu could have simply switched over to another Indian domestic side- why join the ICL?
As a matter of fact, he did. He switched to the Andhra team for a season during which he was attacked by Arjun Yadav. He returned to the Hyderabad side only after the coach changed. He left again in 2010 and only rejoined in 2017.
You can accuse of him being a brat but was it partly flamed by these incidents early on his career? It’s not easy developing in such an environment that is toxic. I’m shocked that you’re dismissing it all when the HCA is one of the most well known corrupt organisations in Indian cricket which is a feat truly remarkable in the latter. This is the same association that appointed a known fixer as President who proceeded to further ruin everything and one who still struggles to bring through exciting talent despite there being so much untapped potential. Yet again all of what I’ve said is well known, all you need is a little bit of extra theorising based on established facts to get to Rayudu’s point of view.
Let me remind you that this is Arjun Yadav, he’s played over a hundred games for an Indian domestic side despite averaging less than thirty in two formats and was also a part of the IPL despite an average of fourteen in T20s. He was also called up as cover in the Indian squad once back in 2007 when he was averaging less than twenty in List A cricket and had only six wickets to his name. How is this bloke not a product of absolute nepotism?
As for the reports of Bumrah and Pant’s return, the former will only be picked if he proves his fitness after what happened last time. Why is it ridiculous that he returns straight to the Irish T20s? He’s an established first teamer who was our best bowler when he got injured, most teams would pick such a player the moment they’re fully fit. I didn’t see England asking Archer to prove his mettle in the Blast before being considered again, I don’t think Pakistan did the same with Shaheen either (though I remember him taking the initiative to play in domestic T20s). The bilaterals exist for a reason and that is to build and test our squad for the tournaments, this is serving that function. I do think it would be silly if Pant came straight in to the WC but I’m sure that isn’t going to happen when they have two alternatives who haven’t done too bad themselves. The Dravid rule is what I was referring to, it seems like it’s been conveniently forgotten for certain players. In Kishan’s case it is even more ridiculous given he got the undeserved opportunity to be captain and still rejected the selection. This should ideally reset his test selection merits back to zero but I don’t expect Rohit to drop his fellow MI teammate who has to be the face of the team once he is gone.