In-form Gharami omitted from Irani Cup squad.

Sports Editor, Takmaa News, Kolkata, 30th Sep 2023 : Bengal Coach L R Shukla wonders what does a Bengal player have to do to break at the national level.

In a strange selection process, Bengal’s in-form batsman Sudip Kumar Gharami, who amassed over 800 runs in Ranji Trophy last season, couldn’t find a place in the Rest of India 15-member squad for the Irani Cup clash against Ranji champions Saurashtra.

“I don’t understand this selection process. The boy is in the form of his life is pushed back. This way you break his morale. And more importantly you might be losing a player who could contribute for India. I don’t support this. Selectors should be more watchful and be more even in their decision making,” said Shukla reacting to the selection.

Only Akash Deep, who bagged over 40 wickets for Bengal in Ranji last season, finishing seventh in the most wicket-takers’ list found a place in the squad.

The 24-year-old Gharami, who was in sublime form, helped Bengal finish as runners-up last season. He was in the sixth position in the Ranji top-run-getters’ list last season with a mammoth 803 runs in just 10 matches.

The talented batter, who smashed three superb centuries and five half-centuries in 18 innings with an average of over 50, was unlucky to miss out on an opportunity again.

Interestingly, other batters —B Sai Sudharsan, Yash Dhull, Dhruv Jurel and Rohan S Kunnummal, who were named in the ROI squad against Saurashtra hardly managed to impress and were behind Gharami in the top run-getters’ list in the Ranji last season.

Rohan S Kunnummal, who played for Kerala scored only 203 runs in five matches. Yash Dhull scored just 270 runs in six matches for Delhi.

Dhruv Jurel, who played for Uttar Pradesh scored 429 runs in six matches while Sai Sudharsan, who played for Tamil Nadu, scored 572 runs in seven matches.

Earlier this year too, Gharami was also not included in the playing XI in the Irani Cup match against MP after being named in the squad.