Sunil Gavaskar left befuddled at the axing of Ajinkya Rahane in the T20I squad

Renowned television commentator and cricket analyst, Sunil Gavaskar, questioned the axing of Ajinkya Rahane, who scored four consecutive half-centuries in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia. Sunny was then skeptical about the place of KL Rahul in the squad who did not play even a single game in the 5-ODI series against the Aussies.

The only possible explanation for the absence of Rahane in the squad is the return of India’s first choice opener Shikhar Dhawan, who would open the batting with Rohit Sharma. KL Rahul would be accommodated in the middle order in place of Manish Pandey at the number 4 slot.

“Why do you say it is understandable? Man who gets four consecutive fifties, why he is not in the team? KL Rahul is a fine player, but KL Rahul didn’t play a single game in the five One-Day games. So why is he in the team and Rahane who has got four half-centuries, not in the team. So don’t say it’s understandable,” commented Sunil Gavaskar according to an interview with NDTV.

I am really happy with the selection Ashish Nehra: Sunny

“Some reason has to be given by the selection committee. A man who does not find a place in the team for the last five or six games for India still finds a place in T20 when the man who has played after the fourth One-Day International in Sri Lanka and has scored four half-centuries hasn’t,” further added the original Little Master.

However, he was glad the selectors took notice of the hard yards put in by Ashish Nehra and recommended his name despite his age. Ashish Nehra made his way into the team after impressive performances in the IPL.

“The moment somebody passes 30-32, everybody is looking to have him dropped from the team. So I am really happy with that selection because Ashish Nehra can contribute with the ball. He is still picking wickets, he is still stopping runs, and that’s I think is a great sign. We in India are so obsessed with youth that I am surprised we don’t find six years seven years old in the Indian team,” concluded Gavaskar.