Published: Jan 06, 2015, 05:50 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 06, 2015, 05:50 PM (IST)
The Indian selectors on Tuesday announced the 15-member squad for the ICC World Cup 2015, which did not surprise many. Devarchit Varma takes a look at those cricketers who could have been a part of the squad that will defend India’s world title.
January 6, 2015 was an important date in world cricket. Not because the fourth and final inconsequential Test between India and Australia began at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), and also not because the South African side cemented its place at the pinnacle of the ICC Test Rankings for Teams with an eight-wicket thrashing of the West Indies. The day was important keeping in mind the selection of the 15 men who will help India defend their World Cup title, as the mega tournament is about a month away.
While there were last-minute rumours of Robin Uthappa and even Piyush Chawla (the lucky charm) being named, the day was full of ups and downs. Yuvraj Singh’s three centuries on a trot put him among the red-hot favourites for the tournament and so did Mohit Sharma’s hat-trick on the day of the announcement. But the Indian selectors had already made up their mind. Let’s take a look at the cricketers who missed out:
Yuvraj Singh: The ‘Player of the Tournament’ in ICC World Cup 2011 not finding a place in the Indian 30-men probables was not shocking, as his career graph has been on a downfall ever since he had forced his way back into the cricketing action. Since his return, Yuvraj never looked his usual self, and could never attain consistency. He sprang up with few good performances here and there, but India and its fans never got to see their superstar in the same mood again. His struggle in the ICC World T20 2014 proved to be the final nail in the coffin. One wonders whether Yuvraj will ever be seen in the Indian colours again.
Robin Uthappa: The Karnataka batsman would certainly be a disappointed man. He shone with the bat in all chances he got but Uthappa failed to find a place in the final 15 for the ICC World Cup 2015. It’s not just the fact that he excelled in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but he performed well in the domestic circuit as well, contributing heavily in the wins that the state team registered. Uthappa was a good option as a backup wicketkeeper as well, and he has the ability to hit the ball long and clear. Unfortunately, Indian selectors thought otherwise.
Wriddhiman Saha: For someone who has missed an enormous chunk of international cricket due to the presence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it was immensely lucky for Wriddhiman Saha to find a place in the Indian Test side. However, Dhoni has not retired from 50-overs cricket and Saha will certainly have to wait for a chance in the limited-overs side.
Karn Sharma: The presence of Karn Sharma in the Indian Test squad on the tour of Australia gave indications that the Indian selectors may select him for the ICC World Cup 2015. But the poor outing in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval and his lack of experience prompted the selectors to play a little safe and give more opportunities for him to prove his mettle, before throwing him in the deep end. Karn has lot to prove and in just one game there seem to be more critics than fans for him, and the right-arm spinner will have to fight all the odds to earn a place back in the side.
Amit Mishra: Despite his exploits in the limited-overs formats, especially in the IPL, Amit Mishra failed to make it to the squad despite offering the variation. The Indian selectors decided to go ahead with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, ignoring the fact that Mishra’s leg-spin could have added more venom to the Indian bowling attack.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
