Sheldon Jackson speaks on India snub

Experienced player Sheldon Jackson has played just nine games for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the cash-rich Indian Premier League. Still, he has been a familiar face in domestic cricket for Saurashtra for a long time.

The veteran has played 79 first-class games for Saurashtra, scoring a massive 5947 runs, which came at a fantastic average of 50.39 with 19 centuries to his name. But despite having a considerable amount of runs, the wicketkeeper-batter has not received a single call-up to the Indian Test squad.

Since MS Dhoni announced his retirement, selectors have lauded opportunities for wicketkeepers like Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Wriddhiman Saha and the young Rishabh Pant. Still, Jackson has been out of the race.      

In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, Sheldon Jackson revealed how selectors had overlooked him while picking the Indian squad. 

He said: "To be honest, this has not happened just this year; it has been happening since the beginning. The amount of runs and the rate at which I got them, I don't think many in the country have. If you see 75 matches and around 6000 runs, that shows what I have achieved through my hard work,"

Sheldon Jackson further shared that he was referred as being 'too old' by someone just because he was over 30 years. Despite performing well in domestic cricket, he was disheartened to receive such feedback. 

"There has been no communication (on why I was not picked) but once I asked someone what more I need to do, I was told I am old. They told me that above 30, we are not picking anyone. But ultimately, after a year, they picked someone who was around 32-33. I was very vocal that is there any law that once you're above 30, 35 or even 40 you cannot get picked? Then why don't you come out with a law itself?"

However, despite the ignorance he has faced from the selectors, Sheldon Jackson continues to score runs in domestic cricket across formats. 

He does so to keep his dream alive to play for the Indian team, and he thanks his loved ones and coaches who keep him motivated. 

He further stated: "It is very difficult because year in and year out, you're putting in the hard yards, being consistent, because Indian domestic cricket is so difficult, to be consistent over there year in year out. But that is the motivation for me. The more I don't get picked, the more I get determined to do it again. Not to prove people, but to prove it to myself that I still have the hunger in me,"

Sheldon Jackson continued: "I don't have to prove anything to anyone since I have done that for a long time. But I have the best batting coach in the country and the best trainer. They keep on motivating me that 'let's see one more year'. So I say the same to you, 'let's see one more year."

However, apart from being a professional cricketer, Sheldon Jackson also works in the income tax department in Ahmedabad. He is also grateful for their immense support towards his cricketing career.