IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy: ?Pujara, Shardul, and Natrajan, gone birds for India selection? Former Indian selector slams BCCI over inexperienced squad selection for the BGT 2024-25

IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy: India is all set to tour the Aussie island for a five-match series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, named after the two legends of the game from both nations.

India will tour Australia for a red-ball series after a three-year break in 2021, where India emerged the proud winners, while the series this time is scheduled from 22nd November at every iconic venue in Australia.

The BCCI earlier this week announced the squad for the Indian travel that will travel to Australia for the BGT. Some notable omissions, along with some very fresh recruits, took the cricketing world by surprise.

Last time India visited Australia, they included the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shardul Thakur, who have been left out this time despite Pujara being in the best of forms with the bat both in the Ranji Trophy and the County Championship this season.

Senior pacer Mohammad Shami is not yet available based on his recovery schedule from an injury he faced during the World Cup back in 2023. In his absence, the Indian pace deck will be led by ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, as he will have the likes of Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep, and Harshit Rana alongside him, none of whom have played a single red-ball match in the country.

Raising questions on the same, former Indian selector for the BCCI back in 2020, Sunil Joshi slammed the selectors with harsh words over ignoring experience for such a vital series en route to the WTC.

ALSO READ: IND vs NZ: Kane Williamson was ruled out of the third test, while the uncapped pacer has been drafted into India?s squad for the Third Wankhede Test

He directly took names of players, as he mentioned the likes of Shardul Thakur and T Natrajan among the players who could have had the experience India needed under such conditions. Alongside Pant, he also had the backs of Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, once an Indian player who had been left out of the squad for a long time now.

His faith in the likes of Shardul Thakur, Pujara, and Natrajan?s experience seemed far more compelling than the inclusion of youngsters in Harshit Rana, NK Reddy, and lastly, promising batter Abhimanyu Easwaran.

ALSO READ: IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy: With Steven Smith destined to be back at No. 4, these players are auditioning for the opening spot in the Australian 11