New Delhi: Batsman all-rounder Yuvraj Singh who was omitted from list of 30 probables for World Cup as well as from contracted players list by the BCCI, could still make it in to the squad if Ravindra Jadeja fails to prove his fitness within few hours from now.
The biggest cricket extravaganza World Cup is about a month away and the national selectors are set to meet on Tuesday to select the 15-member squad out of the 30 probables announced earlier.
Jadeja was ruled out from the test squad in the ongoing test series in Australia. The out-of-favour Yuvraj Singh's brilliant domestic form will weigh on the selectors when they meet to pick the squads for the ODI tri-series against Australia and England besides the World Cup.
Yuvraj, who was not picked in the preliminary list of 30 probables and even dumped from contracted players list, has since come back into contention by striking three back-to-back hundreds against Haryana, Maharashtra and Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy.
But the question is if he is chosen from out of the probables list then what about Axar Patel, Parvez Rasool and Stuart Binny who were selected in the preliminary squad as all-rounders? What is the logic behind short listing 30 probables?
If reports are to be believed about his being in the contention for World Cup squad than BCCI must be taking in to its consideration his performances in the domestic cricket in the last few months.
But had he not been among the runs BCCI still would have ignored other three probabales all-rounders namely Akshar Patel, Parvez Rasool and Stuart Binny?
It is intriguing that a batsman who was not good enough even to be included in the list of probables, is now being considered for the replacement of Jadeja.
One must remember Yuvraj has not played any ODI match from past one year since December 2013 and only three good innings that too on Indian soil, do not easily make a case for him particularly when Wolrd Cup is being held in Australia and New Zealand where wickets are much faster where most Indian batsmen are found wanting.
Taking a look into Yuvraj's record in Australia and New Zealand, he scored 516 runs in 17 innings on Australian pitches from 2003-2007 at an average of 30 with 1 hundred and two half centuries. While in New Zealand he averages just 21 with 234 runs in 11 one day innings.
The ICC rules also do not debar the selectors from changing their mind and including a player not in the original list of probables.
Cricket expert Chetan Sharma, favoring Yuvraj, said, “He is the only option left as an all-rounder if Ravindra Jadeja is not selected. He is a match-winner and must be included in the squad.”
“Despite having being dropped from contracted players list, he can qualify for Grade C players automatically if he is selected,” he added.
