'Shardul ahead of Saini again!' Fans lash out at team selections in 1st T20I

Team India have started their campaign on New Zealand tour with T20I at Eden Park in Auckland. But team management again looked baffled with their thoughts and it reflected in the team selections.

Team management

Till about a week ago, Rishabh Pant was touted as first choice wicket-keeper by the captain and team management. Now suddenly after a concussion injury, Rishabh Pant is out of favour. KL Rahul will be keeping gloves for the first match on the tour. Not that Pant is not given enough opportunities but we are looking here at different approaches from team management without any changes in the on-field performance of a player.

In another selection, Shardul Thakur was given nod ahead of Navdeep Saini. This move surprised almost everyone involved with Indian cricket. Navdeep Saini has something about him with his zipping pace and hit the deck lengths. He bowled brilliantly during Australia series at home and Eden Park dimensions also might have suited his style of bowling with bigger square boundaries.

Shivam Dube preferred over Washington Sundar is also a talking point. Kiwi players play against Shivam Dube type of bowlers day in and day out in domestic cricket. Washington Sundar should have brought more variation in the bowling lineup with equal ability for some handy hits down the order.

Fans react
Fans are again not pleased with team selections and they are lashing out at captain and coach for the strategy. Here are some of the reactions from social media.

Shardul Thakur is giving runs so that he can have Runs to Bat #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/4ekE5zLFgr

— Sai (@akakrcb6) January 24, 2020

Whenever shardul thakur bowls a dot ball #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/qZaEIMSYbf

— Gitartha Kalita (@gitartha_k) January 24, 2020

India : We have the best pace attack in the world

* includes Shardul Thakur in team *

Other teams : pic.twitter.com/iNYrLzhlPc

— Pranit More (@Rj_pranit) January 24, 2020

Navdeep Saini after watching Shardul Thakur's performance#INDvsNZ #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/5mRsUaQUNz

— Right Arm Over (@RightArmOver_) January 24, 2020

Manish Pandey ahead of Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur ahead of Navdeep Saini…Strange team selection once again.#NZvIND

— अज्ञानी (@ekAgyaani) January 24, 2020

Players in the bench:

Sanju Samson.
Rishabh Pant.
Kuldeep Yadav.
Washington Sundar.
Navdeep Saini.

Gun middle-order batsman, Gun spinner, Bowler who can hit the deck hard in middle overs, good power play bowler + handy with the bat and a perfect stroke player. #NZvIND

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 24, 2020