BCCI recently announced the squad for SL Tour 2021. Although the team had many newbies, a certain section had the opinion that IPL had more preference than the domestic competitions as the selection criteria. This debate has anyways been in the news ever since IPL started.
The domestic competitions, comprising Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, were the main selection criterion before. However, in recent years, it has solely been IPL, at least in limited-overs cricket. In this article, we talk about six players who would have been in the SL Tour 2021 squad if domestic cricket was the selection criterion for the Indian Team instead of IPL.
1) N Jagadeesan – Would Have Been The Reserve Opener For SL Tour 2021
With 364 runs from eight games at an average of 72.80 in the recent SMAT, Jagadeesan was the highest run-scorer in the tournament. It was unfortunate that he did not get chances in IPL. If domestic cricket was the main criterion, Jagadeesan would have easily overtaken the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad as the reserve opener. He would have also been ahead of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan for the wicket-keeper spot.
2) Sheldon Jackson
Not just this tournament but Sheldon Jackson should have long ago made it to the Indian Team. Nevertheless, despite switching states recently, the wicket-keeper batsman has been in fine form. Of course, he is one of the best wicket-keepers in India. The player has toiled for many years in the Ranji circuit. For a team that requires good middle-order batsmen, Sheldon would have been an automatic choice if domestic cricket was the criterion.
3) Rishi Dhawan
This man from Himachal Pradesh has been performing brilliantly in both departments in recent years. Yet, after one stint with the Indian Team, he has never been considered again. Even in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rishi took 16 wickets in 5 games and was the third-highest wicket-taker in the competition. India needs more options for the pace-bowling all-rounder department and hence, Rishi would have been picked.
4) Jaydev Unadkat – Would Have Replaced Navdeep Saini For SL Tour 2021
Jaydev Unadkat broke records in the last Ranji Trophy. Of course, a red-ball format cannot be considered as a selection criterion for a white-ball tournament but this man has been doing well across formats in domestic competitions. He has matured in recent years and is a leader for his side. These aspects would have been useful for a tournament where the seniors are unavailable.
5) Siddarth Kaul – Would Have Replaced Navdeep Saini For SL Tour 2021
While he took 14 wickets in five Vijay Hazare Trophy games, he collected the same number of wickets in six Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy encounters this season. Yet, Siddarth Kaul is not in the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. He would have been a better option than Navdeep Saini, who has struggled in recent months.
6) Riyan Parag
Unfortunately, the selectors are not focussing on skill-based cricketers for the middle-order. Riyan Parag is an excellent option to play in the No.5 or No.6 position for the future. In the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the youngster accumulated 267 runs in five games at a stunning average of 87. Yet, his name is not in the squad for the Sri Lanka tour.
