Call it sentimental value or his reputation of being a big match player, Yuvraj Singh is back in the limelight as discussions heat up on whether or not he will make a backdoor entry into the 2015 World Cup team which the Indian selectors are supposed to pick in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The left-hander may not have a great chance of making it to the 15-member squad simply because he was earlier ignored by the selectors when they picked the 30-member probables. Nevertheless, he is still a talking point.
But the chances of him getting a surprise call-up are dim. And, the reason is simple, with Ravindra Jadeja likely to be fit for the showpiece event after nursing his shoulder injury, Yuvraj can’t get into the team as an all-rounder. Most importantly, Jadeja was groomed for this event and he is preferred by the team management over Yuvraj.
But then, if one of the other three certainties in Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu do get injured in the upcoming tri-series, which India plays before the big tournament, the selectors may be forced to look out for a player outside the 30-member squad and it’s only then that Yuvraj has a slight chance. But even then it would be an emergency call-up and not one that would see him in the initial 15-member that too is picked on Tuesday.
Another gateway would be if India captain MS Dhoni puts his foot down to pick his 2011 Man of the Series player in the team. But with only a hat-trick of centuries in the domestic cricket, will it be fair to ignore others who are already in the squad by virtue of their consistent forms?
Some other prominent players like Robin Uthappa, Manoj Tiwary and in-form Murali Vijay too deserve to be in the team. But then, where in the place?
According to the ICC rule, only 15 players are allowed to be picked and in case of an injury, a replacement is allowed to be a part of the team. So it will definitely be difficult if not impossible for these guys to find a seat on the plane to Australia.
