India’s world-cup winning captain Kapil Dev has outrightly rejected the idea of another opener in the Indian squad for the upcoming Test series against England as was reported by TOI.
Giving his opinion of ABP News Kapil Dev asserted that the team management which includes the skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri must have given ‘these are the players we need’ opinions to selectors, and hence theory of an extra opener is demeaning one for the selectors.
He also pointed out that the squad already possess two ‘big’ openers in KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal and hence India’s search for another option does not seem to be the right move.
"I don't think there is any need for it. There should be some respect for the selectors too. They have picked a team and I'm sure it wouldn't have happened without their (Shastri and Kohli) consultation. I mean, you have two such big opening batsmen in KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. Do you really need a third option? I don't think it's right," Kapil said on the 'Wah Cricket' show on ABP News.
"I want that the captain and the management should have a say, but not at the expense of over-ruling the selectors and say that 'these are the players we need'. In that case, we don't even need selectors. I am feeling a bit odd knowing that something like this has happened because if it has, it demeans the selectors and their role," he said.
The conundrum over India’s opener for England Test developed after Shubman Gill developed a stress fracture in his leg that may well force him out of the entire series.
Earlier this week, TOI reported that the team management is eager to get Prithvi Shaw back in the squad in England after the series in Sri Lanka although they have Abhimanyu Easwaran in the ranks as well.