Team India or Team CSK: Is favouritism harming Indian cricket?

Mohit Sharma’s selection ahead of Umesh Yadav raises questions

As the title suggests, off late we have been seeing the CSK side of the Indian team – Captain MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohit Sharma and Suresh Raina. Well, certainly all of them are quality players. But every cricket fan will agree that some of these guys have been persisted with even when they have been consistently inconsistent for the national side.

The consequences are that very few of the non-CSK lot have been able to get a berth in the playing eleven. The question is about being a little partial when comes to the Chennai Super Kings players. Mohit Sharma had done reasonably well in the IPL. But he has a very limited international exposure.

But this guy got a chance to play on the fast bouncy conditions in the first One day international between India and South Africa. A lot of questions arise. Firstly, why was Umesh Yadav left out? His pace would have certainly troubled the South Africans way more than others.

Secondly, on such an important tour, why isn’t Zaheer Khan in the One day squad? He was asked by the BCCI to fly early so that his experience could help the other fast bowlers. Zaheer is fit, that’s a certainty, and has done reasonably well in the handful of matches that he has played after an injury layoff.

Instead of grooming others, it would have been better if he would have been a part of the one day playing eleven. His reverse swing, Umesh Yadav’s pace and Bhuvaneswar’s variations would have brought tremendous variety to the Indian bowling lineup.

Coming to Murali Vijay, he has been a player who even after playing for so many tests could not be relied upon. Yes, of course he has struck a couple of centuries during the Australian tour but has got more chances than anybody else. Ajinkya Rahane would have cemented a place in the Test side had he got half the number of chances that Vijay has relished upon.

Wriddhiman Saha hasn’t done anything great when we compare his performances relatively with the other wicket-keepers playing domestic cricket. Dinesh Karthik has more experience of playing on foreign pitches. He has done well in the IPL too. Point is you have to give these guys equal number of opportunities.

Suresh Raina’s woes against the short ball are known to everybody. Ambati Rayudu or Ajinkya Rahane can be tried out. They have proved in the past that they have the hunger to score big. Rahane has gone to South Africa after scoring a remarkable ton in the Ranji trophy. So when will these young guys get a chance? Or are they meant to warm the bench and carry drinks.

If the right playing eleven is selected keeping the playing conditions in mind, India will never be tamed as it was in the first one day international against South Africa.