Trying to write up a preview of the third Test match between India and Sri Lanka, I was looking up the members of the Indian squad and then it hit me - whatever happened to Mohammed Kaif?
Midway through India's last Test series against South Africa, when Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out of the series after aggravating his groin injury, the selectors announced Kaif as his replacement. The fact that he was picked over other middle order batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and S Badrinath, was surprising, but, considering his prolific domestic season, completely justified. Though he was not expected to make it to the playing XI (and he didn't), it offered him a glimmer of hope of staging a comeback and offered us some insight in to the selectors' thinking. It seemed like the selectors were not ready to push the youngsters in to the Test arena without them first providing some credible evidence of delivering on their promising talent.
Now, only a couple of months later, he finds his place in the squad being occupied by Rohit Sharma! What has changed? Was Rohit's performance in the IPL Twenty20 enough to displace Kaif? I was against Kaif's selection then, but, am equally against his replacement now.
For me, it's not about Rohit vs Kaif, it's about having a consistent selection policy. It's about treating your players right. Imagine how Kaif must be feeling - first surprised at getting recalled, then elated at the opportunity, only to be bewildered and confused at being dropped! And, I am willing to bet that no one possibly called him offering an explanation.
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