GANGULY SAYS HE WOULD PICK RAHANE AHEAD OF RAYUDU

Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly has criticised the exclusion of Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane from the ODI and T20I squads to take on Ireland and England next month.

While Rahane was not included in the ODI and T20I sides, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Ambati Rayudu, who has been in red-hot form this Indian Premier League (IPL), was selected for the threematch ODI series against England.

Ganguly is of the opinion that even though it is Rayudu who has shown rich form, India should have taken Rahane to England as he has the requisite experience.

The ex-India captain was quoted as saying by India Today, “Ajinkya Rahane has missed out on limited-overs squad. (It is) a harsh decision. I would still pick Ajinkya Rahane ahead of Ambati Rayudu. Ajinkya Rahane is a far superior player in England where the ball is going to move. He has got a good record in England.”

Ganguly, however, welcomed the inclusion of Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer, who made his limited-overs international debut last year in 2017. Iyer was speculated to replace Virat Kohli in the Indian Test side as the incumbent leader would be on County duties with Surrey in the entire month of June.

“Shreyas Iyer is in the England ODI side which is a good decision. Karun Nair (in the Test squad vs Afghanistan) is a bit of a surprise. I am surprised that Shreyas Iyer has not been picked for the one-off Test considering he’s been brilliant for Delhi in the IPL,” Ganguly said.

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