National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman has been planning to revive the India ‘A’ tour program. While such tours have been happening for decades, Laxman’s predecessor, Rahul Dravid, made them such a success that most of the Indian cricket team’s younger players have done well in the international arena because of it.
Laxman to continue Dravid’s initiative
Laxman will try to replicate that. They were stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but in November, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gave serious thought to restarting it. Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, there was an ‘India A tour of Australia.’
The squad sent had a mixed bag. You had Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Sai Sudharsan (23) with the likes of Abhimanyu Easwaran (29) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (28). However, Bengal’s head coach since 2022, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, isn’t happy with the squad selection.
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No place for Abhimanyu Easwaran & Ruturaj Gaikwad in ‘India A’
He told RevSportz that he’s planning to write to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about making three changes. One of these was sending younger players for the ‘India A’ tour. His logic is simple. There is use of sending developing players, who can play for Team India for a decade, rather than sending those who haven’t made it work yet.
“Players like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Sai Kishore—those who are nearing thirty—shouldn’t be considered for the India A team. They have played enough for India A,” said Laxmi Ratan Shukla.
He thinks if these ‘senior players’ want to make it to Team India now, they must do well in the domestic circuit. They have had all the exposure, and it’s time to prove themselves by churning out runs and taking heaps of wickets for their states.
Now, if they are to be picked for the Indian team, that should be based on their performances in domestic cricket. Young and upcoming players should be picked for India A,” the Bengal head coach added.
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