Isn't Rayudu a keeper also?. Why pick him & Saha?
Rayudu is a makeshift keeper like Rahul Dravid. Maybe the selectors didn't have much confidence in his keeping abilities at test level, which is fair enough.
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Am I missing something ? I don't see how Rayudu deserves this opportunity ?
He has played 4 ODIs, so has no international experience.
His first class average is around 45. Even though Last year he had a Ranji average of 60+ he only scored 1 century, while scoring 7 50s.
Did not exactly set the stage on fire in the India A tour of SAF - 2 50s in 6 innings overall
So nothing to suggest that he has the temperament for playing long innings.
Confusing ..
Rayudu has long been a batsman in the test mould. He used to be hailed as the next Tendulkar in his initial years of domestic cricket before he joined the now defunct ICL and created a mess in his career. Thankfully he got rid of that and came back into the BCCI fold to get a chance to resume his career. The way people hailed Pujara for his exploits in domestic cricket, Rayudu was hailed similarly. And as you have shown, his recent domestic record is pretty good. He is a very solid batsman, a guy who can be bet upon in overseas conditions.
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I don't think Pujara will play ODI's for India anymore(he has played 2 thus far) .
Reason - He has a dodgy knee . He has already had a operation for it . In ODI's he will be a liability on field . I wonder why fantastic players like VVS and Pujara don't take physical fitness a bit more seriously
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Pujara is a liability on the field? When did you get such an opinion? He has been pretty good in tests, and he looks physically lean and fit. From the tests I've watched on him recently, his fielding has looked pretty safe and secure.
The problem with him not playing ODI's is Dhoni. Dhoni doesn't have enough confidence in Pujara's ODI capabilities. The day Dhoni starts getting confidence in Pujara, he will make it to ODI's. Dhoni gave so much chances to Rohit. He can give atleast 25% of that to Pujara and see what Pujara can do.