Mumbai chief selector Milind Rege responds to Suryakumar Yadav's tweet criticising selectors' decision to drop Jay Bista for Ranji Trophy semis, after Mumbai beat Baroda in U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy quarters
Milind Rege
Suryakumar Yadav created a stir on Wednesday after he took to Twitter to express his disappointment over a selection issue. The former Mumbai skipper was apparently unhappy with the selectors' decision to drop Mumbai opener Jay Bista for the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Madhya Pradesh in Cuttack starting today.
Milind Rege
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Seemingly stung by Yadav's tweet, Mumbai's chief Milind Rege yesterday hit back at the flamboyant Mumbai batsman after Bista's 128 helped Mumbai beat Baroda by four wickets in the quarter-final of U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy at the Moti Bagh ground in Baroda.
'Right decision'
Speaking to mid-day after the Mumbai U-23 team entered the semi-finals, Rege said: "The selectors' stand is vindicated. Bista was not getting the kind of runs we were looking at the first-class level. Therefore, it was the right decision to make him play the U-23 match. This century will give him the kind of confidence he needs for future games," Rege said, before making a tongue-in-cheek remark: "Mr Suryakumar Yadav may not agree with it (the selectors' decision). His job is to play and not be judgmental on selection policy (as tweeted by him)."
Yadav had tweeted: "Sad to see match winners being dropped from champion side. Not a good sign for future. Soft target rate rising. #RanjiTrophy."
Although Bista did well with the ball by claiming a fifer in the Ranji quarter-final against Jharkhand in Mysore, his batting form did not improve —198 in eight innings with one half-century. "Bista is a very talented player and future hope of Mumbai's cricket," said Rege.
Will U-23 centurion Bista make a return to the Ranji team if Mumbai progress to the final? Rege said: "We will cross the bridge when we come to it. Right now, our priority is to get the perfect balance in the teams (U-23 and Ranji Trophy) which are both doing outstandingly well. Mumbai cricket is on the upward trend and every good player will be looked at," Rege signed off.