3 Duleep questions

The North Zone team for the Duleep Trophy was announced on Friday with quite a few glaring gaps. The Sunday Express poses three questions to...

The North Zone team for the Duleep Trophy was announced on Friday with quite a few glaring gaps. The Sunday Express poses three questions to the zonal selectors:

• Why is Aakash Chopra not in the team?

Even if Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan are automatic opening choices, there’s no space for someone who played for India less than 12 months ago. Even in his worst season as a first-class cricketer, Aakash averages 36.30, just 38 runs less than the third opener in the squad, Ravneet Ricky

• Why is Dinesh Mongia the captain?

Mongia might be India B skipper and fresh off England pro circuit but his Ranji performance last season was below par, scoring 131 runs in six innings at 21.83. Even Sourav Ganguly scored more than him in less than half the matches he played for Bengal. Gambhir could have captained in his place

• Did Sarandeep Singh deserve a place?

Former India offie picked up just 11 wickets last season with a best of 2-65 and an average of 56.90. Punjab’s Rajesh Sharma, who isn’t a part of the Duleep side, picked up 17 wickets in five matches, bowling on green-top wickets at home and under the shadow of Gagandeep Singh, VRV Singh and Amit Uniyal

— G.S. VIVEK