Yograj Singh, the father of former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, has once again stirred controversy with his outspoken criticism of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors and their handling of senior players after India's 2011 World Cup victory. In a recent interview, Singh accused the selectors of "destroying" the careers of seven prominent cricketers and alleged that there was a move to replace MS Dhoni as captain.
Singh's tirade centers around the transition period that followed India's triumphant 2011 World Cup campaign. He claims that the selectors abruptly moved on from experienced players, effectively ending their careers prematurely. He specifically named Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Kaif, VVS Laxman, and Rahul Dravid as players whose careers were unfairly cut short. According to Singh, only three players from the 2011 squad – Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and MS Dhoni – went on to represent India in the subsequent 2015 World Cup.
"You (BCCI selectors) just destroyed these boys for no reason," Yograj Singh stated in an interview with InsideSport. "Boys like Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Kaif, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid. You just made them go after 2011. You just destroyed the team after the 2011 World Cup. The careers of 7 players were put into the gutter. That is why we are struggling."
Singh also highlighted that MS Dhoni was on the verge of being removed from his captaincy role. He stated that after India lost five series, Mohinder Amarnath, who was a BCCI selector at the time, wanted to sack MS Dhoni. However, N. Srinivasan, the then-BCCI President, blocked the sacking. Mohinder Amarnath also confirmed that the selectors had unanimously decided to remove Dhoni as captain due to the team's poor performance, particularly the whitewashes in England and Australia in 2011 and 2012.
These high-profile series defeats to England and Australia between 2011 and 2012 did indeed lead to the phasing out of several key players. While some, like Dravid and Laxman, retired from Test cricket, others such as Gambhir, Yuvraj, Zaheer, and Harbhajan were gradually sidelined.
Yograj Singh's outburst isn't the first time he has publicly criticized Dhoni and the BCCI. In the past, he has accused Dhoni of not supporting Yuvraj Singh's career and has questioned his leadership abilities. While his statements are often controversial, they reflect a deep-seated frustration and a sense of injustice regarding the treatment of senior players.
The claims made by Yograj Singh shed light on the complex dynamics within the BCCI and the often-ruthless decisions made by selectors. The transition after the 2011 World Cup remains a subject of debate among cricket fans, with many questioning whether the experienced players were given a fair chance to continue their careers. Whether his claims are entirely accurate or not, Yograj Singh's comments have undoubtedly reignited the discussion about the handling of player retirements and the role of selectors in shaping the future of Indian cricket.
