‘In India, we’re all scratching our heads’ – Lisa Sthalekar on Indian selectors’ lack of clarity on Bangladesh tour selection

Lisa Sthalekar and India Women’s team. (Photo Source: Instagram)

The former Australia women’s captain, Lisa Sthalekar, slammed the Indian selectors for their lack of communication and thought process behind the women’s squad selection for their Bangladesh tour in July 2023. India’s tour included two T20Is and as many ODIs, with the visitors winning the shorter format but drawing the 50-over format series.

The white-ball squad for the Bangladesh tour had a few noticeable omissions which featured in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, back in February. The Indian selection committee did not issue a press release to explain why some of those players were not chosen.

Furthermore, Sthalekar cited the selection difference observed between India and Australia. She said that in Australia a media release will be made if they omit a player from the squad.

The 43-year-old discussed the selection difference between India and Australia in an exclusive interview with Sportstar. She stated that if a player is left out of the squad in Australia, the board will release a statement or conduct a press conference. Sthalekar went on to say that in India no one understands why a player was left out of a particular squad.

“The difference that I have noticed between India and the Australian cricket team is that if there’s a change in the Australian squad, there’s a media release with the chair of selectors stating the reason why a particular player is not selected or if there are other reasons to it,” Sthalekar was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

“I don’t know if I’ve missed a report, but in India, we’re all scratching our heads over why is it that this person is in, or where is such and such and where is the other player? Whereas I know following Australian cricket, it’s easy for a broadcaster because I know who’s injured, who’s not available, who’s taken personal leave. Everything is stipulated nicely so everyone knows where everyone fits,” she continued.

There was constant rotation of players, which is quite disruptive: Sthalekar

Lisa Sthalekar also discussed the rotation of Indian women’s team players during the Bangladesh tour. Bangladesh, according to the 43-year-old, stunned Indians with their performance throughout the series. The Pune-born was hopeful that India would learn from the mistakes they made in their previous series and work accordingly.

“In Bangladesh, there was a slight change in team and there was constant rotation of players, which I would only imagine is quite disruptive. As a player, I enjoyed having a core group of players together because you’re working towards a certain style. So, I think Bangladesh probably surprised them a little bit. They didn’t play their best cricket and they got found out. There’s nothing wrong with that, but they’ve got to learn from that experience,” Sthalekar further stated.

“I’d like to think moving forward, they make sure that they (India) have their best team on the park and that they find other ways to blood the new players in – maybe in an India A tour or whatever. I don’t know what goes on in the Indian women’s side. I only look from afar and they seem to get it together whenever they play Australia, but against other teams, they may falter slightly,” she concluded.