New Delhi, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian cricket captain and chief selector Krishnamachari Srikanth has expressed disappointment over the selection choices for the upcoming T20 series against Afghanistan. He believes this series should have been an opportunity to assess young players, especially following the team’s recent losses.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikanth noted that after defeats in the series against Ireland and England, selectors opted for a conservative approach by choosing a strong squad for the Afghanistan matches. “They are putting in all their strength, but this is a mistake,” he stated. “Against a team like Afghanistan, you should have tested your youth. The decision to field a powerful team stems from the fear of losing. It feels like a desperate move after the losses in Ireland and England, and the team resembles the one selected for England.”
Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, India faced defeats in all six T20 matches against Ireland and England. However, a second-string Indian team bounced back by winning a three-match series against Zimbabwe 3-0 in July.
The squad announced for the Afghanistan series includes four injured players. Srikanth criticized this decision, arguing that training at the Bengaluru Center of Excellence does not ensure players are match-ready. “These four players have not proven their match fitness. What basis do they have to be considered fit? Just because you demonstrate fitness at the Bengaluru COE, does that mean you are ready? Look at Harshit Rana; he went to England and faced issues there. Match fitness is essential,” he emphasized.
The Indian team selected for the Afghanistan series features Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar, but concerns remain about their fitness levels.
The T20 series against Afghanistan is scheduled to take place on September 13, 15, and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
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