India’s head coach on the Sri Lanka tour Rahul Dravid showered praises on his squad (led by-Shikhar Dhawan) as he believes that each one of the players currently a part of the team is qualified and has rightly earned their spot in the national team.
Rahul Dravid’s comments came after eight players became ineligible for the last two t20Is of the ongoing three-match series due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the bio-bubble.
For the unversed, Indian all-rounder Krunal Pandya tested positive of COVID-19, leading to the postponement of the second game by a day. Following this, eight players including the likes of Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Deepak Chahar, K Gowtham, Ishan Kishan, Yuzvendra Chahal were asked to isolate themselves as they came in close contact with Krunal. However, none of them tested positive for COVID-19 later but as a precaution, team management asked them to remain in isolation.
1⃣0⃣0⃣ up for #TeamIndia after 16 overs. ? ?#SLvIND
Follow the match ? https://t.co/Hsbf9yWCCh pic.twitter.com/xkZEpJuqBK
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 28, 2021
As India was carrying 25 players with them for the Sri Lanka tour, they wouldn’t have thought that forming an XI would become a task for them. However, because of the disappointing incident, the Indian team management found itself stretching to form the playing XI for the second T20I against SL.
Meanwhile, before the start of the 2nd T20I of the ongoing series, Rahul Dravid was asked to comment on the changes in the team. Responding to this, he came up with an epic reply, where he stated that India had 11 players to choose from and all of them are in the team for the second T20I as 4 players were handed their maiden caps. He said:
“It has turned out that way [giving chances to youngsters]. We tried to do that in the one-days as well, trying to give a few people a chance. [Leading the series 2-1, India had handed five debuts caps in the third ODI]”
He added:
“I believe if you are selected to play for India, you should be good enough to be in the XI. I don’t think the selectors select you to warm the benches or for a holiday. At least, that’s not the message I have been given. Looking at each one of the 20 players who have been selected for this tour have got the sheer weight of performances,”
“People have earned the right to come here. It’s not always possible to give everyone a chance, but it’s really nice to be able to give as many a chance as possible. … I think everyone who is here has earned it,”
Here, watch the video:
#Quote of the day: #RahulDravid: We’ve got eleven players to choose from, and all eleven are playing ??#INDvSL #INDvsSL2021 #T20 pic.twitter.com/eKCVtLGLEa
— Chatraraj® (@ItsCssOfficial) July 28, 2021
