U-23 CK Naidu: Odisha defeat Tripura by 12 runs, fans raise fingers at selectors
Tripura's dismal performance in the Under-23 CK Naidu Trophy continued with a heartbreaking 12-run loss to Odisha, exposing once again the pitfalls of reported prioritizing underperforming players over deserving talents.
The match, held at Sundargarh Stadium, saw Tripura come agonizingly close to victory. Chasing a modest target of 150, they were well-placed at 94 for three.
However, an abysmal showing from the lower-order batsmen turned what seemed like a certain win into yet another humiliating defeat.
On Monday, Tripura needed just 49 runs with four wickets in hand. Pity, they even cannot do it and succumbed to another humiliating defeat.
Resuming the play at 101/6 today, Tripura managed to add only 37 runs before collapsing to 137 all out in 58.3 overs.
Captain Anand Bhowmik, after playing a cautious 22-run knock off 58 balls, shocked the team management by gifting his wicket with a reckless shot. His dismissal marked the beginning of the end for Tripura, as no other batsman displayed the grit to see the game through.
For Odisha, bowlers Bimal Kumar and Ashutosh Churia shone, each claiming four wickets and dismantling Tripura’s batting lineup. With five matches completed, Tripura remains without a single point in the tournament, raising serious questions about the team's preparedness for the domestic level.
The repeated dismal performance of the players, especially the batters, sparked serious dissent among State Cricket lovers. Selectors are under severe criticism as many raised questions on retention of some of the players who failed to contribute in successive matches.
The selectors are facing mounting pressure to bring in promising players like Rajdeep Dutta, Swarup Sahani, and Arkjyoti Das dropping the underperformed players.
“Will the selectors finally show the courage to prioritize merit over favoritism?”, asked cricket fans.
The repeated failures of Tripura's batters stand out starkly when compared to the commendable performances of the bowlers. In almost every match, bowlers like Abhijit and Sourab have excelled, consistently restricting the opposition from posting big scores. However, regardless of how modest the target is, Tripura’s batters often capitulate, undoing the splendid efforts of their bowlers.
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