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After the defeat to South Africa, India team management had hinted at a transition phase in the Test team, and it seems like the selectors have already started working on that. If recent reports are to be believed, four regulars of the Test squad are all set to be snubbed for the Sri Lanka series. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, and Wriddhiman Saha are all set to miss the Sri Lanka Test series.
According to an InsideSport report, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors have informed the quartet individually that they are not being considered for the two Test matches. The report also claims that Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara may get a chance in the future but it is the end of the road for the other two players- Saha and Ishant Sharma.
“Selectors want to try some new faces. Yes, they have been informed individually by the selectors themselves. Decision have been taken after consulting with Coach Rahul Dravid and other senior members of team management”, InsideSport quoted a top BCCI Official.
The report said that the selectors are of the opinion that both Ishant and Saha have passed their prime and it's time to move on from them. “Selectors feel Ishant & Saha both have passed their prime. Age is also not on their side. They have been great servants of Indian cricket but now is the time to move on”, further said the BCCI official.
Ishant and Saha opt-out of Ranji Trophy
A couple of reports in other media houses have also confirmed that Saha and Ishant have been informed that they will not be considered for any match in the future. And as a result, both the players have decided not to take part in the Ranji Trophy. While Saha's name was missing from the Bengal squad, Ishant has also not been included in Delhi's squad.
With BCCI looking in no mood to give a chance to these two players, an announcement about their retirement now remains a formality. However, Rahane and Pujara still have a chance if they perform in the domestic circuit. Both the players will be representing their respective state teams (Rahane for Mumbai, Pujara for Saurashtra) when the red-ball tournament begins.