Vijay Shankar sent in at number four when KL Rahul was dismissed for 48. (Reuters)Vijay Shankar’s poor outing in Old Trafford, Manchester has raised questions on his place in the Indian team’s playing XI yet again.
Now this will again raise questions on Vijay Shankar. Justly so. The Pant debate will restart immediately.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) 27 June 2019
Shankar was sent in at number four when KL Rahul was dismissed for 48 with the scoreboard on 98/2 after 20.4 ovs.
India got out of jail today, but the middle order with Vijay Shankar, Dhoni & Jadhav at 4,5,6 looks one specialist batsman short. Esp given the tail of 4 with Bhuvi out. Too dependent on top 3.
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) 22 June 2019
However, the 28-year-old failed to contribute with the willow as Kemar Roach snared him with a fullish delivery which found the edge to wicket-keeper Shai Hope. The dismissal continued Shankar’s string of low scores with the bat in this World Cup (with a highest score of just 29 vs Afghanistan).
Vijay Shankar is the kid on the ground who owns the bat, so rest of the gareeb kids have to pick him. #INDvWI
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) 27 June 2019
Shankar’s flop show sparked off a wide range of reactions on Twitter:
Vijay Shankar scores 14 runs on 19 balls and out to prove that he is the worst player of Indian team. And his selection is the biggest mistake of selectors.#INDvsWI
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) 27 June 2019
Rishab Pant !!!!!!!!!!!!! How he doesn’t get in this team I will never know …… #CWC19
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) 27 June 2019
A weak Number 4 further weakens the middle order. Always had reservations about Vijay Shankar #IndvsWI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) 27 June 2019
Earlier, India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat against the West Indies in their ICC World Cup match, here Thursday.
It’s a must-win game for West Indies, who have left out Evin Lewis and Ashley Nurse and replaced them with Sunil Ambris and Fabian Allen.
