Ajinkya Rahane proposes a major shift in India’s cricket selection process, while Cheteshwar Pujara expresses caution and reservations.
Rahane and Pujara Advocate for Modernized Selection Panels in Indian Cricket
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, former mainstays of India’s Test team, remain committed to improving Indian cricket even after their international careers have ended.
Rahane emphasizes the need for selection panels that reflect the modern game, advocating for recently retired players to become selectors instead of waiting the current five-year period. “Players should not be scared of selectors. We need selectors who retired recently, five to eight years ago,” he said on Pujara’s YouTube channel. Rahane stressed that selectors must adapt to evolving formats like T20 and IPL, ensuring decisions align with the mindset of contemporary cricketers rather than relying on outdated approaches.
Pujara urges caution with plan
While Ajit Agarkar and newly appointed Pragyan Ojha bring T20 experience and modern cricket understanding to India’s selection panels, Ajinkya Rahane advocates for even more recent players, especially at the domestic level.
However, Cheteshwar Pujara cautions against sidelining experienced former players, warning that valuable knowledge accumulated over time could be lost. “In big states this can be implemented because they have many options,” he explained, noting smaller teams like Saurashtra may not have that luxury. Pujara emphasized that past cricketers with strong records should not be deprived of selection opportunities simply because they retired longer ago.