Not the first time that India’s team selections have left out several in-form players, but this time it’s not due to injuries or propaganda or any conflict with the Men’s selection committee, but because of the increasing depth of the Indian team.
Such players include Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Rinku Singh, who have some numbers in domestic cricket. India would also be eyeing preparing a core team for the next year’s World Cup in South Africa, and hence, some experiments need to be made.
While there are several good players in the Indian team, and players who have impressed with magnificent performances, some players have been ignored from time to time despite their dominating show. Aakash Chopra has hence dropped a crazy suggestion to such players.
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“Had these three players played for a different country, they would have been the permanent part of their ODI team-” – Aakash Chopra
Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra named three Indian players who come under the category of real-time Indian stars who have constantly been overlooked by the BCCI selectors as well as the Indian team management.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is among the three names mentioned. It is known that Gaikwad is a splendid batter and has some remarkable numbers in List A cricket, where he averages 58.83, the highest by any Indian in List A cricket with 5000+ runs. He also scored a century for India in the previous series against South Africa.
“Had these three players played for a different country, they would have been the permanent part of their ODI team,” said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.
“Firstly, there is Ruturaj Gaikwad. If you see his List A numbers, it will leave you shocked. He has the best List A average till date, aggregating over 5000 runs in 99 games, out of which 20 are centuries. Gaikwad has played a handful of ODIs too and made a century in the previous series. But he is still struggling to find a place in the Indian team. That’s the kind of depth we have. Gaikwad is unstoppable,” he added.
Devdutt Padikkal averages over 80 in List A cricket
The next name on the list is the star of this year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, Devdutt Padikkal, the Karnataka batter who has been unstoppable this season, and he has credited his coaches in the RCB for his transformation into a smashing strokemaker.
“The second player in this list has a List A average of 82. At an average of 82, Padikkal has scored and made over 3000 runs in only 39 games. While Gaikwad has at least played, Padikkal is not even part of the conversation. He is brilliant, but there is no place for Padikkal yet,” said Aakash Chopra through the aforementioned source.
Devdutt Padikkal managed to score 640 runs in just 7 innings this season and averages 91.42 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is currently the highest run scorer in the domestic contest.
“Rinku is not even part of the conversation” – Aakash Chopra
The last name suggested was of UP middle-order batsman Rinku Singh, who averages 53.44 in List A cricket. Though Rinku, unlike Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal, does not have several centuries, as many say, he bats at one of the most crucial and tough spots in the XI.
“The third is Rinku Singh. He has played nearly 70 List A games and averages over 50. Rinku often doesn’t make hundreds because he plays in the middle order. But Rinku’s numbers are still mind-blowing. Like Padikkal, Rinku is not even part of the conversation. That tells you about India’s depth of talent, and it’s unbelievable,” Aakash Chopra reasoned.
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