K Srikkanth has expressed his strong disapproval of the selection of Shardul Thakur in the ODI World Cup squad, categorizing him as neither an exceptional batter nor bowler. The squad for the highly anticipated quadrennial tournament, scheduled for October-November in India, was unveiled by the Indian Selection Committee under the leadership of Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar. KL Rahul secured his spot in the team after receiving medical clearance from the NCA and subsequently joined the squad in Kandy for the Asia Cup 2023.
"Shardul Thakur jakar 10 pe batting kar raha hai, 10 overs bhi nahi dal raha hai,” he said while questioning the last time he bowled 10 overs. “Acha performance hai, mind mein rakhlo. Unko importance mat dedo. Isliye overall averages dikhana nahi chahiye (If a player has good performance, keep them in the back of the mind but do not give them the importance),” Additionally, he emphasized the importance of scrutinizing comprehensive statistics and averages, noting that they can occasionally be deceptive.
— IndiaCricket (@IndiaCrick18158) September 5, 2023
The announcement was made during a press conference held on September 5, with skipper Rohit Sharma accompanying Agarkar. Notably, the squad saw the return of KL Rahul, while Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Sanju Samson were left out. In the midst of these developments, K Srikkanth, former Chief Selector for the 2011 World Cup squad, expressed his reservations about Shardul Thakur's inclusion.
Srikkanth, alongside Sanjay Bangar and Piyush Chawla at the Star Sports studio, questioned the decision to pick Shardul over Arshdeep, citing statistical comparisons and the overall quality of bowling. He emphasized that Shardul neither possesses extraordinary batting skills nor stands out as an exceptional bowler.
The finalized Indian squad for the ODI World Cup 2023 includes the following players:
Also Read: Fans' reaction to India squad for ODI World Cup 2023
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