'Surya, I'm so sorry, I feel bad for you my friend': Kris Srikkanth

Suryakumar Yadav during the T20I series vs Sri Lanka

Various cricketing pundits and fans were left with wrath, when the Indian team management didn't pick Suryakumar Yadav in the Playing XI for the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.

KL Rahul, who missed on the T20I series against the same opposition, was given a nod ahead of Suryakumar. Rahul played a fine hand for his 39 off 29 deliveries in the first innings, giving India the momentum and helping Virat Kohli notch an important innings. 

However, the Mumbai batter is playing T20 cricket at a whole different level, and no one is even close to what Surya is doing at the top-flight stage.

Former India chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth, however, is pleased with Team India's thinking of playing Rahul ahead of in-form SKY. 

"Surya, I'm so sorry, I feel bad for you my friend. Suryakumar Yadav not there in the team? You look at the top five and ask, who are the impact players there? Who are the guys who can take the game away from the opposition?" Srikkanth mentioned.

The World Cup-winning opener also spoke in favour of Washington Sundar, who did well in the series against New Zealand and Bangladesh, but was dropped because of lending an opportunity to Axar Patel.

"I don't know why Washington Sundar is not playing. I would have picked three spinners, two pacers with Hardik Pandya as another option. That is why I keep saying that we need to develop more batting all-rounders, that is where India are missing out," he added.

India posted a massive total of 373 for the loss of seven wickets, courtesy Kohli's 73rd International tons and brisk fifties from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.

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