Let’s turn the cricketing clock three years back. Kohli gives a statement confirming that Rayudu has almost locked a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming 2019 ODI World Cup to be held in England.
There was good reason for it. India relied heavily on their top-three at the time and didn’t have any batter capable of being consistent while batting at four. However, things changed when Rayudu arrived into the scene. Batting at four, Ambati Rayudu bailed India out of trouble when the top-order failed to fire during multiple games against the Caribbean and New Zealand.
Ravi Shastri was against the idea of having three keepers in WC team
Rayudu had carved his flesh and bone into playing the nation’s number 4. But despite being guaranteed a place in the squad by skipper himself, he wasn’t picked at all. Rather, selector MSK Prasad chose a red-neck rookie ahead of him: Vijay Shankar. However, Shankar got injured by Bumrah’s yorker during training session and had to be replaced.
Netizens expected Rayudu to replace him. Hell, he should have been their from the beginning. But nah. Selectors and the captain threw another curve-ball by fast tracking an untested Rishab into their playing eleven.
Rayudu’s snub was not liked and people blamed team’s coach for it. However, in a latest interview… Ravi Shastri confirmed that he was also rooting for Rayudu. Iyer too. Ravi was also against the idea of having 3 wicket-keepers in team’s WC starting eleven.
“I had no say in the team selection. But i wasn’t okay with three wicket-keepers being picked for the world cup. Either Rayudu or Shreyas could’ve come in. What was the logic of having MS Dhoni, Rishab and Karthik all together?” said india’s former coach during an interview with TOI.
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During the same interview, Ravi Shastri also explained how he did not have any says in team selection. In his words, selectors did that job exclusively. Here’s what he said: “But i never interfered with the selectors’ work. Except when i was asked for feedback or a part of general discussion.”
Kohli and co. had an incredible run in the tournament on the back of good knocks from their top three. Nonetheless, their efforts were dusted as they failed in the all important semi-final clash against New Zealand. The much-discussed keeper trio was sluggish in their process, combining to score a 153-ball-88 as India lost the close encounter by eighteen runs.