MSK Prasad, Gautam Gambhir Engage In Heated Argument Over Ambati Rayudu's WC 2019 Omission

A lot of questions were raised when MSK Prasad-led selection committee picked all-rounder Vijay Shankar in team India's 2019 WC 15-member squad ahead of veteran Ambati Rayudu.

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New Delhi: Former Team India star opener Gautam Gambhir and former BCCI chief selector MSK Prasad engaged in a heated verbal exchange over the omission of veteran batsman Ambati Rayudu from India men's cricket team for World Cup 2019. A lot of questions were raised when MSK Prasad-led selection committee picked all-rounder Vijay Shankar in team India's 2019 WC 15-member squad ahead of veteran Ambati Rayudu. When asked why Rayudu was ignored and not picked, Prasad referred Vijay Shankara as a 3-D player. Citing examples of himself, Gambhir also spoke about the lack of communication on behalf of selectors when a player gets dropped from the team. "When I was dropped after the 1st Test against England in 2016, there was no communication. You look at Karun Nair who has said there is no clarity given to him. You look at Yuvraj Singh... you look at Suresh Raina," Gambhir said during the show. "Look at what happened to Ambati Rayudu -- you picked him for two years. Two years he batted at number four. And just before the World Cup, you needed a 3-D? Is that the kind of statement you want to see from a chairman of selectors that we need a 3-D cricketer?" Gambhir asked. "At the top (of the line-up), everyone was a batsman -- Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, there was nobody who could bowl. And someone like Vijay Shankar, who bats at the top-order, could be helpful with the ball in the English conditions," said Prasad. He also added that Shankar's domestic records were through the roof and he got picked based on that as well. To this, former chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was also part of the discussion, pointed towards the gap between international and domestic cricket. "Not supporting Gautam or belittling you MSK but there is a huge difference between international cricket and domestic cricket," said Srikkanth. "I agree with Chika that there is a difference but you also have to understand that experience cannot be the only parameter all the time (for selecting players). You may miss out on many players in the process," MSK responded.