Shots fired: Former BCCI bigwig hits out over Team India's selection for World Cup, says one particular player should have been taken

Former BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale lashed out at the selectors for unsuccessfully experimenting with the middle-order of the team following India's exit from the World Cup after an 18-run loss to New Zealand in the semi-finals on July 9. 

Jagdale said that the selectors should have had a better vision as they failed to find the correct combination for the middle-order. He said that despite playing Vijay Shankar, Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik consistently before the World Cup, the selectors did not find a solution to the woes of the team. Jagdale said that the team needed a batsman like Ajinkya Rahane who had a proven track record outside the sub-continent.  

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Throwing his weight behind Rahane, Jagdale said that Rahane had always scored in England while youngster Rishab Pant scored test tons against both England and Australia whereas Vijay Shankar lacked the experience of playing in England. He claimed that he had been talking about Rahane since the middle-order looked weak.  Jagdale also mentioned that Rayudu and Karthik were playing the game since 2003 but failed to establish themselves in the national side. 

The middle-order of the Men in Blue has been under severe criticism with many former cricketers pointing out at the void in the number four position. Rishab Pant, who came out to bat at number four during the semi-finals and in the games before did not quite succeed in filling the void. Vijay Shankar, too, did not have a bright tournament as he failed to fire with the bat at the number four position. 

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