“Let’s put it this way. I am surprised at his omission. He’s such a class player, a virtual wall against the opposition. We will definitely miss him,” Rajput told PTI on Monday. Rajput was non-commital when asked whether he would have opposed the five-man selection panel’s decision to drop the former Indian captain from the team for the ODIs at Guwahati (Nov 5) and Mohali (Nov 8).

“I was not invited for the meeting of the selection committee and I can’t comment on it,” he pointed out.
Rajput, who was named cricket manager for the team after the selection of the squad for the first two ODIs, was present at Ahmedabad as coach of the Indian Reds outfit on October 27.

He has not had a chance to talk to the selectors after the team had been picked. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to them. Let’s see,” he said.