The BCCI on Wednesday announced the 13 member Indian Squad for the fourth and final test match to be played at the SCG starting from Thursday. The announcement however brought forth a number of major surprises. The test series currently stands at 2-1 in favour of the visiting side, who look well set to clinch their first ever bilateral series win on Australian soil.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who was earlier ruled out of a place in the final XI after he failed to clear the fitness test on Wednesday had been retained in the 13 man squad. It was a complete U-turn from the Indian team management so seem to have seem to have agreed upon taking a call on his fitness only ahead of toss on Day 1 of the test match. Ashwin earlier suffered an abdominal strain in the series opener at Adelaide which sidelined him for the next two matches. His availability still remains a doubt with only a day left before the New Year’s test match at Sydney.
The most baffling subject of the squad announcement was the exclusion of veteran pacer Ishant Sharma, who was a part of the playing XI for India in all the three matches played in the series so far. Umesh Yadav, who was a part of the playing XI in the Perth test match but was left out of the last test match at Melbourne has been named in the squad. Umesh is expected to fill the role of the third pacer in the side in place of side in absence of Ishant.
The exclusion of Delhi pacer has left fans fuming on social media. While some twitter users were completely surprised with the team management’s selection decisions, others expressed their disappointment over the matter.
Here are some of the reactions:
Whyyyy no Ishant?
— Samyak (@SamyakSibasish) January 2, 2019
Ishant Sharma??
— sAi SrINIvAs juGGe (@Jugge9429) January 2, 2019
What's this???
KL itna favourite kyu hai team management ka?
And where is Ishant, injured?#AUSvIND #INDvAUS https://t.co/3HoXI3FVLL— Roshan Verma (@iRoshan_Rv) January 2, 2019
Where is ishant ? he would have scored more runs than kl rahul
— arvind (@arvind_1352) January 2, 2019
Surprised to see Pandya missing. Ishant ran out of gas after 3 tests perhaps, he's the oldest pacer in the pack. Return of KL will mean Vihari back at 6 which is fair. If Ash isnt 100% on match day, then it shouldn't be risked and Kuldeep should get in. #AUSvIND
— Mr X (@halfvolleys) January 2, 2019
The post Twitter Left Fuming at in-form star’s exclusion from squad for Sydney test appeared first on The12thMan.
