Indian cricket

'None of the selectors have told me where I stand' - Badrinath

Cricinfo staff

August 8, 2008

	S Badrinath: "The only player to have done better than me in domestic competitions is Gautam Gambhir" © Cricinfo Ltd

S Badrinath, the Tamil Nadu captain, has said that it was a "crushing blow" to not be included in India's squad for the one-day series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in August.

The selectors announced the squads on Thursday and Badrinath, who was among the probables for the Champions Trophy, was not named in either of them. The selectors decided to give Virat Kohli, who led India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, a surprise call-up.

"Even today I was there in front of the TV, with my wife, waiting for the team to be announced. I was numb when they finished reading the names," Badrinath told the Times of India. "I'm lost, I don't know where to go from here. None of the selectors have ever told me where I actually stand. I would love to know where I am lacking so that I can work on that."

The closest that Badrinath came to national selection was when he was called up as a replacement for the injured Gautam Gambhir during the home one-day series against Australia in October 2007.

"For god's sake, allow me to fail," Badrinath said. "If I am unable to prove my worth at the international arena, I will never say anything and be a fringe player all my life. But I deserve one chance."

Badrinath scored 990 runs at an average of 66.00 in 12 matches during the 2007-08 first-class season, including a double-century against South Africa A. He also scored 203 runs at 40.60 during the recent Emerging Players tournament in Australia including scores of 95 and 83 not out.

"Forget Emerging Players Trophy, I have scored heavily during the A series against Australia and South Africa earlier and the only player to have done better than me in domestic competitions is Gautam Gambhir," Badrinath said. "When Manoj Tiwary went for the tri-series in Australia earlier this year, I was intrigued. Still, I tried to keep my cool. Now it's Virat Kohli. This is really going nowhere."

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