Kapil Dev on top-ups in the middle of a tour of India: This is humiliating for the players who are already in the team
Kapil Dev says that the Indian team should not make any additions to the squad in the middle of the tour in England, as the 20 players that are already there are enough for the national team to see them.
India have travelled to England with a squad of 20 players but have the option of calling in backup options if any player gets injured or has to return home due to some reason.
“I don’t think there is any need for it. There should be some respect for the selectors too. They have picked a team and I’m sure it wouldn’t have happened without their (Shastri and Kohli) consultation.
“I mean, you have two such big opening batsmen in KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. Do you really need a third option? I don’t think it’s right,” Kapil said on the ‘Wah Cricket’ show on ABP News.
“I’m not convinced with this theory. The team that they’ve picked already has openers so I think they should be the ones to play. Otherwise, it’s insulting for the players who are already in the team.”
“I want that the captain and the management should have a say, but not at the expense of over-ruling the selectors and say that ‘these are the players we need’. In that case, we don’t even need selectors. I am feeling a bit odd knowing that something like this has happened, because if it has, it demeans the selectors and their role,” he said.
“Only Virat and Ravi can say that. I feel that this is a wrong set-up to enter. The players you have backed, you cannot demean them. They are big players and I wouldn’t want something like this to happen. No need for any unnecessary controversy.”
