Sourav Ganguly has given his opinion on Team India’s developments after World Test Championship final 2023. The former Indian captain reacted to Team selection and the vice-captain for the India tour of the West Indies. Ganguly said "I don't understand the thought process behind making Rahane Vice Captain again. There's Jadeja, who is a certainty in Tests, he is a candidate. But to just come back and straightway become VC after 18 months, I don't understand".
Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Indian side after the tour of South Africa. The Mumbaikar had scored 2591 runs in 81 innings from 2017 to 2021 at an average of 34.09, at a strike rate of 46.38, including four hundred. Especially from 2020, the former Indian captain played 31 innings and scored 751 runs at an average of 25.03 and a strike rate of 42.79. Along with Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara was also dropped from the team due to similar struggles with the form.
Ajinkya Rahane's return to the Indian side
Ajinkya had a good Ranji trophy season in 2022/23, as he scored 634 runs in 11 innings at an average of 57.63 including 2 hundred and a fifty. The Mumbai batter was picked by Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023 and he performed well in the Indian T20 league. The CSK batter scored 326 runs in 11 innings at an average of 32.60 and an exceptional strike rate of 172.48. Due to many injured players, Rahane was called back by the Indian team for the final of the World Test Championship 2023.
In the WTC final, Rahane scored 89 and 46 respectively. For the West Indies tour, Rahane is made the vice-captain of the Test team again. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja with better numbers as a batter and exceptional numbers as a bowler from a long time for India, isn’t considered as an option to be the vice-captain. The teammate of Rahane has scored 2233 runs in 72 innings at an average of 41.35 and claimed 200 wickets at an average of 24.47 in Test cricket since 2016.
Here’s how the fans reacted to Ganguly’s opinion -
Why not ashwin as vc ? He is well deserved .jaddu also not bad
— jam (@Ajay88216105) June 29, 2023
In logon ko tab kya ho jaata when they actually hold some post , saara gyaan uske baad hi kyun aata hai when they are nobody
— Raazi (@Rg86037221) June 29, 2023
Rahane has poorest avg 26 in last 3 years.
— CHOKO LEE😼🔥😎 (@itsChoko18) June 29, 2023
Dont deserve to b in Team only.
Statpadded in day 1 lost match at wtc with 3-4 drop chances.
🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮✅️
Padikkal better tbh
— Johnmuffa (@ictblood) June 29, 2023
w for ganguly
— BackFoot || #Ashes2023🇦🇺🦘 (@82_MCG_classic) June 29, 2023
Because Pant is coming
— Sahil (@VK______18) June 29, 2023
He don't understand the thought process because it does not exist.
— The 12th Man (@dixitd) June 30, 2023
Vice captain needs to have leadership skills. Jadeja is a champion cricketer but not captain material, how can you make him VC just because of his certain place in the side. Rahane has to be the VC if he is playing. Whether he should be in the team or not is the question.
— Cricket-Sanket 🏏 (@awesomesanket) June 29, 2023
BCCI has become a joke recently
— Shubman Gang (@ShubmanGang) June 29, 2023
Even former BCCI president doesn't understand. That's tells how badly it needs rewamp.
— Pichaa Paati (@Pichaa_paati) June 29, 2023