IND vs SL Series: End of Era in Indian Cricket All India Selection Committee led by Chetan Sharma took some big decisions for India vs Sri Lanka tour. The likes of 100+ Test veteran Ishant Sharma, middle-order specialists Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and wicket-keeper specialist Wriddhiman Saha, 37, were dropped in an unprecedented move. Follow India vs Sri Lanka LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
IND vs SL Series: End of Era in Indian Cricket, 100+ Test veteran Ishant Sharma, Pujara, Rahane & Saha dropped
While the trio failed to live up to the potential, Saha’s ageing factor played a big role behind his exit. However, Chetan Sharma has confirmed that the door is open for everyone courtesy ongoing Ranji trophy.
Ishant Sharma
- Ishant Sharma’s axe comes after his wicketless spells in Kapur Test against New Zealand. He had missed the second in Mumbai due to injury while completely ignored for Test matches against the Proteas.
- Ishant has managed just 8 wickets in the last 5 Test matches. He was also dismal during the England tour where he managed 1 wicket in three Test matches.
- At home, he had also managed just 6 wickets against England in four Test matches. The decline in numbers suggests that it’s the end of the road for the Test veteran with the inability to provide breakthroughs when required.
- Ishant Sharma has the least wickets in 2021 in 8 matches as compared to Mohd Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Shami & Shardul Thakur.
Indian pacers in 2021:
- Mohammed Siraj: 36 wickets in 12 matches @ 29.97 avg
- Jasprit Bumrah: 30 wickets in 9 matches @ 26.53
- Mohammed Shami: 23 wickets in 5 matches @ 22.48
- Shardul Thakur: 16 wickets in 4 matches @ 23.19
- Ishant Sharma: 14 wickets in 8 matches @ 32.71
Cheteshwar Pujara & Ajinkya Rahane
- In the last 12 months, Cheteshwar Pujara has averaged just 24.08 in 14 matches.
- He has no centuries since 2019 January.
- Ajinkya Rahane has averaged just 20.00 in the last 12 months, playing 13 matches.
- He has scored only three half-centuries with 10 single-digit scores.
- Rahane and Pujara scored 136 and 124 runs each in the Test series against SA while India received 136 runs in extras.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s struggles since 2020
| Year | Mat | Inns | NO | 100s | 50s | 0s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R | Ca | St |
| 2020 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 163 | 20.38 | 27.49 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 91 | 702 | 28.08 | 34.18 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 108 | 27.00 | 47.16 | 3 | 0 |
Ajinkya Rahane’s lack of runs since 2020
| Year | Mat | Inns | NO | 100s | 50s | 0s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R | Ca | St |
| 2020 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 272 | 38.86 | 42.37 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 67 | 479 | 20.83 | 43.04 | 14 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 58 | 68 | 17.00 | 68.00 | 0 | 0 |
Chetan Sharma stressed that the players are only dropped for the upcoming two Tests. If the players perform in Ranji Trophy, they will welcome them back, including Ishant Sharma & Wriddhiman Saha.
“The selection committee deliberated a lot on Rahane and Pujara. We told them we will not consider them against Sri Lanka but doors are open for them. We have told them to go and play Ranji Trophy,” said Chetan Sharma during a virtual press conference.
“They have served the country for so long. They can come back, why not? It’s like a graph…Rahane hit a hundred yesterday against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. This is a process of managing…Who wouldn’t be happy if they come back?” he added.
Wriddhiman Saha
- At 37, Wriddhiman Saha is no longer in the future scheme of things for the Indian Cricket team
- Saha had last scored a lone fifty against New Zealand in home Tests during 4 innings as Pant was rested.
- Saha has played 40 Tests and scored 1353 runs with three centuries and an average of less than 30 which became his undoing.
- He, however, had 104 dismissals behind stumps, 92 catches and 12 stumpings.
IND vs SL Series: End of Era in Indian Cricket, 100+ Test veteran Ishant Sharma, Pujara, Rahane & Saha dropped
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