'Youngsters will get their due'

The selectors have tried to provide the team management with a backup option for all departments in the upcoming Test series against England, according to new chief selector Sandeep Patil who on Monday said promising youngsters will get their “due chance” whenever the slots open up.

Patil also clarified that the selectors had chosen three openers and not four in the Indian squad with Murali Vijay being the reserve opener and Ajinkya Rahane being picked as a middle order batsman.

“We have selected three openers, not four. Ajinkya Rahane has been picked as a middle-order batsman. We have tried to provide the captain and the team management with a backup option for all departments. We have an extra spinner, top-order batsman, middle-order batsman and pacer”, he said.

Asked whether the selectors had any specific long-term goal for the team, Patil said “ No, we’re going match by match and series by series.” “Every match is going to be important and we want the Indian team to do well in each of those matches. Let’s not talk about the season ahead of us but this series against England that is coming up”, he told BCCI’s official website.

The 56-year-old Patil, a former Indian cricketer known for his flamboyant batting, said that he will try to blood the youngsters whenever the opportunity came.
“We have good established cricketers in the team. The opportunities will come for the youngsters. It’s a long season and everybody will get his due chance whenever a slot opens up”, he said.