'What else does he need to do' - Harbhajan Singh questions Indian selectors for ignoring Sheldon Jackson again

Sheldon Jackson has been a veteran in the Indian domestic structure for a long time, but the 35-year-old has found it really difficult to break into the national team. On November 9, the Indian selectors announced the squad for the T20I series against New Zealand at home while also announcing the squad of India A for the South African tour. 

The India A team will be traveling to the rainbow nation to play three red-ball games. Jackson was once again not picked by the selectors for this tour. Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh posted a tweet in support of Jackson questioning why he doesn’t get picked even after performing well in every format for his domestic sides. 

Harbhajan pointed out that Sheldon Jackson made 854 runs in the 2018/19 Ranji season while also scoring 809 runs in the 2019-20 season, which was won by his domestic side, Saurashtra. The right-handed batter then moved to Puducherry for a season before returning to his home team for this season. 

What else does he needs to do to play for India: Harbhajan Singh

“Ranji season 2018/19 scored 854 and 2019/2020 scored 809 and also Ranji champion that year plus this year current form, yet not getting picked even for India A team can selector tell him what else he need to do to play for india apart from scoring runs #shame @ShelJackson27,” Harbhajan Singh questioned. 

Ranji season 2018/19 scored 854 and 2019/2020 scored 809 and also Ranji champion that year plus this year current form👇yet not getting picked even for India A team.can 🇮🇳selector tell him what else he need to do to ply for india apart from scoring runs #shame @ShelJackson27 pic.twitter.com/HcwQDwhGsZ

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 9, 2021

It should be noted that the Indian selectors have gone with young players or the players who can at least give a significant amount of time at the national set-up. Being 35 years old is a disadvantage for Jackson at this moment, as bringing him into the national set-up would hint at no longer vision. 

However, the questions raised are not completely incorrect, given Jackson’s form with the bat in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. In his last three outings so far, he had scored 62*, 70, and 79*. Apart from this, he has a first-class average of 49.42, having scored 5634 runs. His white-ball numbers are quite impressive as well and he has been a stalwart for Saurashtra in the past decade.