WI vs IND 2019: Sourav Ganguly Blasts India’s Team Selection for the First Test

India are currently playing the first test of two-Test series against West Indies in Antigua. India put up 297 runs in the first innings where KL Rahul gave a steady start with 44. Although Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli fell very cheaply, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari steadied the ship, adding 82 runs. Rahane scored 81 while Ravindra Jadeja played an anchor’s role, scoring 58 and put up a decent total. However, the team selection didn’t go well with the former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

India vice-captain in the limited-overs, Rohit Sharma, failed to make it to the cut along with experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. However, their exclusion surprised Sourav Ganguly. He backed Rohit Sharma to open in the longer format as well and thought Ashwin should get a chance ahead of Jadeja because of his wonderful record against the Windies. Moreover, he was surprised with the decision to leave out wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav who picked up a five-wicket haul against Australia on a flat track in his last Test.

“Yes, I was also surprised to see Kuldeep (Yadav) left out, because the last Test he played against Australia, he got five wickets in Sydney on a good flat pitch. But Jadeja also has been in good form,” the former India captain said,” the former captain Sourav Ganguly told The Times of India.

“The surface yesterday at Antigua needed three fast bowlers because we saw the seam movement the fast bowlers got. Ashwin’s record is phenomenal,” he further added.

Rohit Sharma had scored 68 runs against West Indies A in the practice match prior to the Test opener. But that didn’t help him in the selection and he has been overlooked from India’s in Tests since December 2018. He has played 27 Tests, amassing 1585 runs at an average of 39.62. His highest score was 177 in the longest format so far.