Reetinder Sodhi the former Indian all-rounder has expressed surprise over the Indian team management decision. The decision to choose additional openers despite the presence of the likes of Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, and Abhimanyu Easwaran in the 20-member squad present in England. Subhuman Gill having a shin injury and will be ruled out of the 5- match test series against England.The Test series starting August 4 at Tent Bridge, Nottingham.
Several reports suggested that team management had written to the BCCI to fly Devdutt Padikkal and Prithvi Shah to the UK. Reetinder Sodhi felt this decision something odd. “Chetan Sharma and the other senior selection committee have chosen 20 excellent players and whom they have sent. Reetinder Sodhi also twenty players are enough, some are net bowlers and others come as replacements. Now, there is a demand to send more openers from India it is very difficult to understand this.
The former Indian all-rounder also felt that Agarwal, Rahul, and Easwaran are deserving candidates to represent India. Agarwal on having score two double -centuries has a fine record as an opener. While KL Rahul has scored 5 test centuries, but he last played a test match for India in August 2019. Whereas Easwaran, who is the reserve player his records for Bengal speaks about the volume of talent he possesses.
Reetinder Sodhi also added “Shubman Gill is injured, you have replacements openers, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, and Abhimanyu Easwaran is a player who has been waiting for an opportunity for several years. He has set the stage on fire by scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy and even captains Bengal.
“I feel he deserves an opportunity as a test opener. At the end of the day, my personal opinion is that if you have Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mayank Agarwal, and KL Rahul there, you should give them a chance first”.
