‘Phir Se Rest?’ Ye Kya Laga Rakha Hai’ – Fans Are Fuming As Star Indian Players Are Again Rested For The WI Tour
Indian cricket fans just had heartbreak as India lost the fifth rescheduled Test match against England on 5 July 2022 in Birmingham. However, India is also scheduled for three-match ODIs and three-match T20Is in the upcoming weeks. But, the Indian Cricket Board announced a 16-man squad for the upcoming West Indies Tour, starting on 22 July 2022.
As of now, the Indian selectors named the squad for three ODIs only. After that. India will play five T20Is also. Several reports were there for the last few days that senior players will be rested for this series ahead of the mega event later this year in Australia. However, it got true as star players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant have been given rest for this series.
Speaking about the announced squad, Shikhar Dhawan has been appointed as the captain as he will make a comeback in the International set-up. Ravindra Jadeja will be his deputy for the series. Selectors have shown faith in an inexperienced middle-order batting lineup in the form of Deepak Hooda, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer. Young pacer, Arshdeep Singh has also been included as India will focus on a young pace unit with the likes of Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.
Sanju Samson has been added as a wicketkeeper batter option along with Ishan Kishan. Despite having some recent failures, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been included along with Shubman Gill. Gill will make a comeback on this tour for the 50-over format after a long time. However, the decision of giving rest to star players did not go well with fans and former players as they shared their disappointment on Twitter. Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan shared a tweet with a statement that no player can make a comeback to form by taking a rest. Even though he took an indirect dig at Virat Kohli, fans have also shared their opinions. On the other hand, some fans expressed it as a good decision ahead of the preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Here is how Twitter users have reacted to this decision:
Phir se rest? Ye kya laga rakha hai @BCCI #WIvIND
— SPARTAN (@Iam_Swayam) July 6, 2022
Rohit Sharma to retire next year ??? #RohitSharma #BCCI #IndvsWI #WIvsIND
— Cricket Insight (@Cric_Insight22) July 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/nandhinithinks/status/1544674214023610369
What is this behaviour bcci, siraj and shardul over bhuvi. #wivsind
— Kamal Rao (@KamalRao62) July 6, 2022
Keep calm.
The rest of the players is for a full-fledged T20Is side. India will definitely put a full-fledged side in WI T20Is and Rohit will be captaining in T20Is and those 5 T20Is + Asia Cup will be the preparation for the T20 WC later this year.#WIvsIND
— Souvik Roy (@souvikroy_SRT) July 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/Jaideep_18/status/1544643646493958144
https://twitter.com/Aditya17062002/status/1544645734842368000
Hitman rested again! @BCCI ruining Rohit career#Wivsind
— Shahir (@esafzy) July 6, 2022
Why tf do Rohit and Virat need rest every alternate series???#WIvsIND #Whosthecaptain
— Ankit Mondal (@mondalankit007) July 6, 2022
If you have to blame one single factor on the recent performances of Team India especially around white ball #cricket against SENA countries, it has to be the selectors. Probably the worst selection criteria in the entire world. #BCCI #WIvsInd
— Amit Pillai (@Achillesheel93) July 6, 2022