Sourav Ganguly: Yuvraj Singh may never be picked for India

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly feels Yuvraj Singh should not be picked for India's Australia tour in January on the eve of the selection committee.

Ganguly even said Yuvraj will never again make a comeback to the Indian team.

Yuvraj last played for India in the ICC World T20 last year but produced a series of outstanding performances in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, Ganguly reckoned twilight of Yuvraj Singh’s career has come.

"There's no doubt that Yuvraj is doing extremely well. But if the selectors did not pick him during the 2015 World Cup which was in Australia, they won't pick him again for another tour of the same country. That is a realistic view from a fan of his batting," Ganguly told Sports Today.

Yuvraj has made his debut in 2000 when Ganguly was captain, but the Bengal southpaw said selectors may not be very enthusiastic about bringing him back.

As Yuvraj has notched up a few match-winning knocks for Punjab in domestic cricket, there is a fleeing that he might be included to strengthen the batting order but Ganguly said selectors should look on the bowlers.

"The team has not struggled just because of the batting - the bowling department has let them down. The selectors have to address that. The bowlers didn't have enough pace to trouble South Africa in India. The selectors need to balance the bowling - there is enough ammunition in the batting line-up," Ganguly said.

Ganguly recommends that India should select two spinners for the sereis in Australia and prefer Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja, who made a dream comeback into the Indian team during the Test series against South Africa.

"We should take only two spinners - Jadeja's record in Australia has not been good. There is a case for Axar Patel to continue with his place alongside R Ashwin."

 When asked about pacers, Ganguly said Umesh Yadav was an automatic choice for a series in Australia but hoped selectors should take someone like Ashok Dinda, who has been consistently in domestic cricket. Ganguly said the five-member selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil will have to pick between Mohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Captain MS Dhoni will be under pressure to deliver some good result Down Under. But Ganguly maintained his stance that Dhoni would not be touched untill the World T20 which will take place in India next year.

"Dhoni won't be touched till the World T20 in India and very rightly so. Once the tournament is over, then they should sit with Dhoni and take a call on his future. Virat Kohli needs time to build a team for the Cricket World Cup in 2019," Ganguly said.