Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal
Team selection in Indian cricket has become a hot topic recently, with significant debate surrounding decisions for major tournaments like the Asia Cup T20, where talented players such as Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal were left out. Even the recent series against Australia saw chief selector Ajit Agarkar face considerable public scrutiny. During a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma offered his candid thoughts on this contentious issue.
Sharma highlighted the core dilemma, asking, “There’s always talk about players like Shreyas Iyer not getting picked, but the real question is—who do you drop for them?” He humorously suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) might need to increase squad sizes to 20 instead of the usual 15, simply because India boasts an overwhelming pool of talent. He emphasized the unenviable position of a selector, calling it “the most thankless job in cricket,” noting the difficulty in satisfying everyone, especially passionate fans.
He further elaborated that selection is an intricate balancing act, where every decision carries significant consequences. “If one player is chosen, fans praise the selectors, but the player who misses out invariably casts a negative light on their judgment,” Sharma explained. While acknowledging Shreyas Iyer’s undeniable skill, he reiterated that ultimately, it comes down to achieving the right team balance.
Sharma then cited examples of other top performers who have faced similar selection dilemmas. “Consider Rishabh Pant in T20s – who realistically replaces him? Or KL Rahul, who, despite a strong IPL season, didn’t find a spot in the T20 squad. If Rahul had been selected, it might have meant sidelining someone like Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson.” He concluded with a poignant observation about the nature of public discourse: “That’s the reality. The players who aren’t selected are always the most talked about.”
Sharma’s insights offer a revealing look into the challenging realities of India’s cricket selection, a process constantly grappling with an abundance of exceptional talent and a scarcity of available positions.