It was quite the surprise when the BCCI fell back on Ajinkya Rahane when it announced India’s squad for the WTC final against AUS. Rahane had not played Test cricket for almost a year and a half, but with injuries to KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer and Rahane showing some spanking form for CSK in the IPL, perhaps the BCCI decided to try and give the veteran India batter one last chance.
Ganguly surprised on Rahane to be vice-captain-
Rahane repaid the faith of the selectors by top scoring for India in the innings. Rahane’s form and resurgence was the only saving grace, so much so that the selectors not only repicked him for the West Indies tour but even made him the vice-captain.
Among the many surprised by the decision ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who found Rahane’s elevation to vice-captaincy ‘tough to understand’.
Ganguly told PTI when asked was Shubman Gill a vice-captaincy option – “Yeah, I think so. I won’t say it’s a step backward. You have been out for 18 months, then you play a Test and you become a vice-captain. I don’t understand the thought process behind it. There is Ravindra Jadeja, who has been there for a long time and a certainty in Test matches, he is a candidate.”
Ganguly pointed out –
“To just come back and straightway become vice-captain after 18 months, I don’t understand. My only thing is that selection shouldn’t be hot and cold. There has to be continuity and consistency in selection.”
