Reaction to India’s World Cup Squad

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Once every four years comes that moment in our country when our nation of over a billion people are thrown into a incomparable frenzy over one particular event, the ICC Cricket World Cup. This time the excitement and eagerness has a special reason because for the first time in 28 years the Indian team will walk into a cricket world cup as defending champions.
Much like the event, the announcement of the Indian squad itself is a special event in the country. Almost every single person  has an opinion on who should be selected in the team. Like every year after  a series of speculation and debate the BCCI officially announced its 15 man squad and the list read: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Stuart Binny, Umesh Yadav.
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Reactions to this news varied across segments. Some of relevant experts and pundits referred to the selection as “predictable & obvious but the best possible team”.Harsha Bhogle said that “India’s World Cup team is as predictable as mess food and away performances”. Both he and Rahul Dravid even got their predictions right which they had made earlier in the day while on a live pre-match talk show. 
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A set of Indian fans were viciously disappointed with Yuvraj Singh’s omission. To think that one of India’s best limited overs batsman and the Man of the world cup in the previous edition would not find a place in the team was shocking and unacceptable to them.
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Another talking point of the day was the selection of all rounder Stuart Binny. The Bangalore boy has been part of the Indian team for considerable period of time but has only aggregated a total of 6 matches for the country. Barring one splendid spell of bowling vs. Bangladesh last year his performances haven’t set the stage on fire. Even though his selection found support from a few former players and pundits, the fans directed their animosity towards the fact that his father(Stuart Binny) was a member of the selection committee and cited that as the reason for his selection.
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Fans didn’t just stop there; they also questioned Binny’s record in the current Ranji trophy which was below average for an international player whereas Yuvraj Singh with his three consecutive centuries for Punjab topped not only the batting chart but also the bowling chart for averages.
Comparative Batting Average (Ranji Trophy 2014-15)
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Comparative Bowling Average (Ranji Trophy 2014-15)
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