BCCI President Sourav Ganguly remembered his playing days, stating that he “didn’t miss a series or a tour”, something that has been a frequent occurrence among current players.
India’s jam-packed cricketing schedule has affected players’ fitness far too often in recent years, and quite a few senior players have been afforded with breaks depending on the fixtures, as a preventive measure.
After a two-month long IPL season, India played five T20Is against South Africa at home under Rishabh Pant, before two separate continents left for Ireland and England respectively. Hardik Pandya was named the side’s captain to lead the team in the two-match T20I series in Ireland, before Rohit Sharma, the all-format captain tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Edgbaston Test against England, resulting in Jasprit Bumrah taking over the leadership role.
Interestingly, India announced a fairly inexperienced squad for their three-match ODI series against West Indies later this month, with a host of senior players – Rohit, Virat Kohli, Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami – being the notable absentees. KL Rahul, who recently underwent a surgery for sports hernia in Germany, was not considered for selection.
Shikhar Dhawan has been named the skipper, as he was during the Sri Lanka tour last year, when the senior members were playing Tests in England under Kohli. Seven captains – Kohli, Dhawan, Rohit, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul, Pant, Hardik and Bumrah – have led India across formats in the period.
The recent squad announcement has sparked debates among cricket fans and experts, given the team’s unimpressive results in recent times.
Former India captain and current BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, while remembering his playing days, talked of playing non-stop cricket across Tests and ODIs, while not taking a break.
“I played for India for 13 years without a break before that. I hadn’t missed anything, not a series or tour. I hadn’t taken any rest like a lot of the players do now,” Ganguly, who played 311 ODIs and 113 Tests between 1992 and 2008, said in an interview with The Telegraph.
Expose this rest policy by boycotting India vs WI odi series .@BCCI 🤬🤬
— kunwar (@KunwarP45) July 6, 2022
I think seniors are taking rest so that India can give more and more opportunities to juniors who may make it to T20 WC and ODI WC squads. Those spots are still open. Good decision tbh. But Virat had to be here as WI have good spinners.
— The Cricket Statistician (@CricketSatire) July 6, 2022
Well..
These players have not played Much matches but still getting rest.?
Is India 2023 Building Process or 2022 T20 Building process is Making good backups.
Whereas,Their 1st choice players keep getting rest.
Kohli best format is odi and he would come back.— MUGHEES SHAHID🇵🇰 (@MugheesShahid9) July 6, 2022
The reason of India declining in test, odi as the main players r getting rest in each series. Rohit and kohli didn’t played Africa series , they r also not playing in wi series. How will they get their form to world cup..🙄🙄#RohitSharma #ViratKohli #BCCI
— THE ARIJIT FAN❤️❤️❤️🥰😘😍🥰 (@KDrai17) July 6, 2022
You have made cricket a joke in india.
This is insane 7 ODI captain in 7 Months. Neither players want nor you give them rest during Club league but for Actual cricket series you give them rest.Why don’t you stop playing Int cricket and only play IPL?@SGanguly99@JayShah
— Santosh Kumar🗨️ (@SantoshKrRajpo1) July 6, 2022
India won 2011 World Cup but they started to prepare team in 2009 itself. In one year India has to be play ODI World Cup at home & this is attitude of top players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Bumrah etc. They want rest during Indian Team Game but were all pumped up for IPL. https://t.co/CCksmIR3xL
— Chandan 🇮🇳 (@CKSahay_) July 6, 2022
