Difficult to understand Ajinkya Rahane’s elevation to Test vice-captaincy: Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly also spoke about BCCI selectors dropping Cheteshwar Pujara for West Indies Tests.

Former India captain and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has said that he doesn’t understand how Ajinkya Rahane has been made the Indian Test vice-captain once again, just after making his comeback to the team after 18 months away from international cricket.

Rahane, 35, was out of favor for one-and-a-half years but was India’s best batter in the World Test Championship final against Australia, with scores of 89 and 46 at the Oval, earlier this month.

This was enough for the BCCI selectors to name him the vice-captain of the Indian team for the Test series against West Indies, but Ganguly has demanded “consistency and continuity” in the selection process.

Meanwhile, talking to PTI, Sourav Ganguly said that it would’ve been an ideal time to groom someone like Shubman Gill.

“I won’t say it’s a step backward. You have been out for 18 months, then you play a Test and you become a vice-captain. I don’t understand the thought process behind it. There is Ravindra Jadeja, who has been there for a long time and is a certainty in Test matches, he is a candidate.” “….but to just come back and straightway becomes vice-captain after 18 months, I don’t understand. My only thing is that the selection shouldn’t be hot and cold. There has to be continuity and consistency in selection,” Ganguly said.

Selectors should have a clear idea about Cheteshwar Pujara: Sourav Ganguly

By omitting a batter of Cheteshwar Pujara's stature, the Indian selectors have pushed the transition button, and Ganguly wants a direct line of communication with a player who has participated in more than 100 Test matches for India.

“Selectors should have a clear idea about him (Pujara). Do they need him to play Test cricket anymore or do they want to continue with youngsters and communicate it to him? Somebody like Pujara can’t be dropped, then picked, dropped again, and then picked. Same with Ajinkya Rahane also,” the straight-talking Ganguly said.