Stirring up a big debate about the selection system in Indian cricket, experienced Team India batsman Ajinkya Rahane believes that fundamental reforms are needed in the appointment of selectors, especially at the domestic level.
According to Ajinkya Rahane, the responsibility of selecting the team should be given to recently retired first-class players, as they understand the needs of modern cricket and the capabilities of the players better. It is worth noting that Rahane has not officially retired from international cricket, but he resigned as the captain of the Mumbai team earlier this year.
Rahane’s statement also suggests that many players are not able to perform openly due to the fear of the current selectors, so a change in the system is very much needed. Since he has been out of the team for a long time, Rahane’s statement is being seen as a direct attack on the BCCI selectors.
In a conversation with his former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara on his YouTube channel, Rahane asserted, “Players should not be afraid of selectors, especially domestic selectors. We should have selectors who have recently retired from top-level cricket, i.e. five-six or seven-eight years ago.”
Rahane further explained, “Considering the continuous evolution of cricket, it is very important that the mentality and thinking of the selectors also adapt to this change and keep pace with it. The game is constantly changing. We should avoid taking decisions that are based on the way cricket was played 20-30 years ago. With the advent of formats like T20 and IPL, it is very important to understand the style of play of modern cricketers.”
As per the current rules, any player who has played 10 first-class matches and has been retired for at least 5 years can apply for the position of domestic selector. But Rahane believes that this model has become outdated and irrelevant. He asserted, “The responsibility of team selection should be given only to recently retired first-class players.”
Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced his retirement from all formats after a 103-Test career in August, partially agreed with Rahane’s views. Pujara said, “This (making newly retired players selectors) can be implemented in big states where there are more options. However, it does not mean that any former cricketer with a good record and who wants to become a selector cannot get a chance just because he retired a long time ago.”
