No credentials,no matter for ‘select’ few

Gaurav Chhabra and Yogesh Nagar were earlier drafted into Delhi’s Ranji Trophy side,while Sparsh Jain,Tapan Jain and Bharat Veer were dropped on the basis of “poor performances”. Their replacements were Vikramjeet Singh and Lovinder Chaudhary (both of whom did not make it to the starting XI),Abhishek Bhati and Vikas Mishra.

Left-arm spinner Mishra was chosen on the basis of a few net sessions,despite the fact that there were already two in the team. Moreover,this season Mishra has worn the Delhi u-22 cap in just one 50-over match,in which he scalped a wicket for 23 runs.

Chaudhary,whereas,was picked for the under-22 squad without having represented the Capital in a single match in other age categories. Bhati too has been chosen without a record to write home about.

Sanjeev Sharma,DDCA’s chairman of selectors for under-22 team,explained that one must be ready to take chances to nurture a successful team. “Pawan Suyal,the left-arm seamer was chosen for the Ranji Trophy team even though he did not have much of a track record. We as selectors have to take our chances,” Sanjeev told Sportline. “When Imran Khan drafted Aaqib Javed and Waqar Younis into the Pakistan team,they hadn’t played even a single first class match. Abhishek Bhati and Lovinder Chaudhary impressed us in the nets. They deserve their chance.”

Coach Rajkumar Sharma agrees. “The ones that were dropped didn’t do well in the first two games. These are talented boys who have been waiting in for their chance. The changes are for the good of the team and the state. I am just the coach of the side. I do not select the team,neither am I present in selection meetings,” he said.

The coach was of the opinion that despite the presence of two left-arm spinners in the squad,there was the dire need for one more.

“As you know Sparsh Jain was dropped. Mishra is the suitable replacement. We needed another left arm spinner. Puneet Mehra bowls left-arm spin but he is a batsman who can bowl a bit. Karan Harit is an all-rounder,but we don’t have any genuine off-spinner. We found Mishra helpful. His figures of 10-0-23-1 proved he can do well,” Rajkumar said.

The chairman of selectors backs Mishra’s selection with hard numbers. “He is a tall lad who will do well on the grassy top of the St. Stephen’s wicket. He has also taken 19 wickets at the Under-15 level,” Sanjeev explained.