Indian selector's current penchant for favouring failed players as part of their World Cup plans was taken a step further yesterday when Dinesh Karthik was rushed to Sri Lanka as a replacement for the injured Virender Sehwag
Indian selector's current penchant for favouring failed players as part of their World Cup plans was taken a step further yesterday when Dinesh Karthik was rushed to Sri Lanka as a replacement for the injured Virender Sehwag.
Dropped from the Asia Cup squad after a dismal triangular series in Zimbabwe, Karthik, whose 45 ODI games has so far earned him an average of 28.96, with four half-centuries, a top-score of 79 and only 869 runs, explains just how bereft are the selectors in their choice of replacement for the final two games of the 10-day tournament being played here at Rangiri Stadium.
|
| UNDER PRESSURE: Dinesh Karthik |
It begs the question whether he is in India's long-term World Cup plans. Such a record is not encouraging and he was ditched from the Asia Cup being held in Sri Lanka's cultural capital after his poor showing in Zimbabwe.
Indian team management remained tight-lipped over Karthik replacing Sehwag as his list of failures and the selectors continued which possibly explains the reluctance to comment on the Chennai batsman's presence in the side.
India had a solid practice session without Sehwag who has flown back to India with a hamstring twinge, although the word is that he will be fit for the Test series on the emerald isle starting on July 20.
Sehwag's only contribution in this 10th edition of the Asia Cup was on India's opening game with Bangladesh when he collected four wickets for six runs in 2.5 overs.
Meanwhile Harbhajan Singh faced the media at Rangiri Stadium here Monday he had a broad smile.
Harbhajan was trying to convince the assembled newspaper, website and TV coterie, that all India are interested in is maintaining the momentum for what is essentially Tuesday's practice outing against Sri Lanka.
"It is a serious game for both sides and that is the way we are approaching it," he said.
