The Fall of the Mighty
Once upon a time, the indian cricket team was the benchmark in white-ball cricket: aggressive, confident, efficient. Today, under the reign of Ajit Agarkar (chief selector) and gautam gambhir (head coach), the team is wobbling. Players with proven pedigree are being dropped, inexperienced picks are being elevated, and the feeling is creeping in: the selectors are running the team as if it were their private outfit. The result? Confusion, discontent, uncertainty — and a team that no longer looks invincible.
The Disappearing Act: Trusted Players Out
The Arshdeep & Rinku Exits
Leg-spinner drop-outs and fast-bowler omissions are striking. For instance, specialist fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has been removed from the T20I XI despite recent performances. These kinds of decisions raise questions: if a bowler is doing the job, why is he suddenly deemed expendable?
Likewise, dynamic finisher Rinku Singh has been dropped from T20Is despite his value in high-pressure matches — a puzzling move in a format built on risk-takers and finishers.
The Senior Batsman Shake-Ups
Veterans are also being treated as liabilities. The rumors around Rohit Sharma’s exit from ODIs have left fans bewildered. A man who carried the team through countless run chases being sidelined — is that strategic refreshment, or mismanagement of legacy?
Meanwhile, young talent like sanju samson — with an average of 56 in the ODI format — has been dropped. This is not just harsh; it’s alarming when performance seems to be ignored.
The Test Case: Sarfaraz, Karun & Others
In Tests, it’s no better. sarfaraz khan — a batsman with stellar domestic numbers — is excluded from the squad, while Karun Nair, aged 35, with limited red-ball impact recently, is picked. This is not an evolution, it’s confusion.
By sidelining proven performers and picking past-their-prime or low-experience players, the management sends a message: merit is no longer the prime criterion.
Puppet Captains & Opaque Strategy
The Vice-Captain & Captain Shuffle
When leadership positions appear less about merit and more about compliance, trouble brews. The appointment of suryakumar yadav (Sky) as t20 captain, over a fitter or more experienced alternatives, fuels speculation of selection bias.
In tandem, whispers of a “puppet captain” – someone moulded by coaches/selectors rather than commanding the dressing room – are growing louder.
The culture Shift
Such superficial leadership changes do more than confuse fans—they unsettle the entire squad’s culture. When players start thinking “what matters isn’t performance but fits with selection policy,” you get insecurity, division, and fragile morale. A once self-assured indian side now looks tentative.
Selection for Happens, Not Because-Worthy
Unjust Omissions
As reported by the Times of india, Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from both the Asia Cup squad and standby list — despite a 17-match IPL season producing 604 runs at a strike-rate of 175 — raised eyebrows.
Former coach/selector sentiment even went so far as to say: “Maybe Shreyas is not liked as much as someone else.” That’s pretty savage.
Questionable Inclusives
The selection of Harshit Rana and nitish kumar Reddy for Test squads (despite minimal first-class experience) has drawn criticism. Some labelled it “undercooked for the red-ball arena”.
If selectors are using franchise connections or future potential as the primary filters, we’re witnessing a dangerous precedent: skipping current merit for speculative hype.
Why This Matters – The Damage to indian Cricket
The Lost “Invincible” Tag
Over the years, india built a reputation of being a formidable force in white-ball cricket — fast scoring, clutch finishes, dominating other teams. Now, with erratic selection and lack of clarity, that tag is slipping.
When you pick players without proven records, you risk dropping performance, cohesion, and momentum. The result: moments of brilliance become rare, and the consistency evaporates.
Talent Pipeline Undermined
When deserving players feel they are overlooked despite good form — and when selection appears positional to loyalty or preference rather than performance — the entire talent pipeline demotivates. Young players think: “If I perform well, do I still get ignored?” That undermines domestic cricket, ecosystem-wide.
The Dressing Room Culture
Morale, trust, clarity: these are the intangible assets every team needs. When the public starts talking about “non-merit selections”, “players dropped without chance”, “selectors running their own show” — you know the culture is cracking.
And a team that doesn’t trust its leadership off the field will be vulnerable on it.
The Way Forward – Demand Change or watch the Decline
For the Board & Selectors
The Board of Control for cricket in india (BCCI) and the selection committee must enforce transparency.
Publish clearer criteria for selection: what qualifies a player, and how decisions are made.
Create consistency in picks: frequent chopping and changing erodes team identity.
Ensure performance-based merit is the primary filter — not franchise popularity or coach/selector preferences.
For the Players
Veteran players still have a role: mentoring, guiding the new guard, stabilising the team. But they must also push for clarity: if someone’s dropping you without explanation, you have the right to ask for accountability.
Younger players must remember: performance counts. But when they see others leapfrog them without equivalent results, they must speak up – for the greater good.
For the Fans & Stakeholders
It’s on us to hold them accountable. When selection decisions look weird, we must ask questions — loudly. media must dig into why a player was dropped, why another was picked. If we remain silent, the rot grows.
This isn’t about loyalty to individuals; it’s about preserving the greatness of indian cricket.
Final Word – A Crossroad Moment
india is at a crossroads. On one side: a future where the team still dominates, builds on its legacy, and becomes stronger. On the other side: a slide into inconsistency, confusion, selection chaos, and fading reputation.
With Agarkar and Gambhir now shaping the team’s future in significant ways, the clock is ticking. If these selection patterns continue unchecked — ignoring merit, picking on preference, causing insecurity among players — then the “invincible” india could become just another good team, vulnerable and inconsistent.
Let’s hope the voices of reason prevail — for the players, the fans, and the legacy of indian cricket.
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