Syed Kirmani says coach Ravi Shastri is 'main selector', current selection panel inexperienced

New Delhi: Former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani on Monday said that the current selection panel is not experienced enough to question or argue with India coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli.

Kirmani's comments come in the wake of the controversy over the exclusion of Karun Nair and Murali Vijay from the Test squad.

Statements from both Nair and Vijay tell a common story. Both said that they were not contacted either earlier or after being dropped from the team. However, chief selector MSK Prasad denied this saying that both cricketers were duly informed.

In an interview to PTI over the controversy, Kirmani said, “If you ask me Ravi Shastri is the main selector, being the coach. He along with captain (Virat Kohli) and senior members will discuss and put it (what they want) across to the selection committee.”

“The current selection committee, with due respect, is inexperienced to these guys (Shastri and Kohli). And they better listen to what the team management wants because they cannot debate with Shastri and Kohli, who have much more experience,” Kirmani added.

Backing the above statements from Kirmani, who headed the selection panel in early 2000s, here are the following statistics of the current five selectors of BCCI.

Prasad played six Tests and 17 ODIs while Sarandeep Singh featured in two Tests and five ODIs. Devang Gandhi played four Tests and three ODIs. Jatin Paranjpe did not play a Test but was part of four ODIs. Gagan Khoda too has no Test experience but played two ODIs.

It clearly shows how Kirmani's statements are not unfounded and the Prasad-led panel's experience pales in comparison to the coach Shastri, who played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs.

Kirmani also commented on Rishabh Pant, who according to him, has been only able to carve a niche in the Test Team due to his batting skills.

“He (Rishabh Pant) is in the cradle of wicket-keeping. He is in the cradle of international cricket also. What is unfortunate is no coach is talking about technique any more. The performance is what matters and MS Dhoni has proved that. The youngsters are following the likes of Dhoni from the point of batting as well as keeping,” he explained.

“Having said that, a basic technique is required. In batting he can manage but in wicket-keeping you have to follow a certain technique to have a good collection and anticipation. You got to have the agility, you got to have a good vision,” he added.

Kirmani, who played 88 Tests, questioned why Pant wears sunglasses when he had a “good natural vision”.

“Unfortunately there is a trend of wearing glasses these days. When you have a good natural vision why bring a glass in front. Because of that you may lose sight of the ball and your anticipation can also go haywire. You might miss a catch or stumping,” he said.

On Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kirmani said his talent is undisputed and rare but his style should not be imitated by youngsters.

'If you talk about collection of the throw, he has to go right behind the stumps, not what Dhoni does (sometimes he takes it from ahead of stumps). Pant is following him. It is not the technique. You have to get behind in line with the stumps, your eye level should be in line with the bails to see where the ball is pitching so that you can judge it better,” the former stumper opined.

Kirmani lamented the fact that his experience was going to waste as he has yet to be called to coach present and future wicketkeepers. He also mentioned that wicketkeepers are born not made.

“Wicket-keeper has to be born which I was not aware of when I started. I spoke to Alan Knott (former England wicketkeeper) for the first time in 1971. I asked him 'why do they say a wicketkeeper has to be born?’. He said 'it is because right from the initial stages, you got to have a good vision, be nimble and agile',” the Bengalurean said.

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