• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Former Bcci Selector Rips Into Gambhir For Bizarre Decision Making Amid Indias Struggle Vs Sa

Former BCCI selector rips into Gambhir for bizarre decision-making amid India's struggle vs SA

Mayank

Srikkanth questions Gambhir for Reddy's selection [Source: Prat1k_, Maikrrishna/X.com]Srikkanth questions Gambhir for Reddy's selection [Source: Prat1k_, Maikrrishna/X.com]

India's team selection in recent months under the Gautam Gambhir management has faced a lot of scrutiny across formats. Especially the constant chopping and changing and going with an all-rounder-heavy team combinations.

The emphasis on picking a player for his ability to contribute across departments has seen India go with a lesser number of specialists, which has, in turn, resulted in losses like the Kolkata Test vs South Africa.

A similar trend has been seen in white-ball cricket, where India picked Nitish Kumar Reddy in the squad against South Africa in Hardik Pandya's absence, while snubbing Axar Patel — a decision which was questioned by former India captain and selector Kris Srikkanth.

Kris Srikkanth questions Nitish Kumar Reddy's ODI selection

Reviewing India's squad for the upcoming ODI series against the Proteas on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka, the former India player questioned Nitish Kumar Reddy's credentials as an all-rounder. 

"Who calls Nitish Reddy an all-rounder? Can anyone see his bowling and say he is an all-rounder? He hit a hundred at the MCG but what has he done after that? One swallow doesn’t make a summer, as they say. If Nitish is an all-rounder, then I am a great all-rounder," he said.

Furthermore, citing the lack of movement and pace in his bowling, Srikkanth felt Reddy is not a proper all-rounder replacement for someone as good as Hardik Pandya and that Axar Patel was unfairly treated by the management.

He also called out Gambhir's inconsistency in team selections, where a new player makes a debut in every couple of games.

“Every alternate match, someone is making a debut. They can say trial and error. Gautam Gambhir can say whatever he wants. I don’t care. I have been a former captain and former chairperson of selectors. I know what I am talking. I am not talking through my hat. You need consistency,” he said.

Notably, Nitish was originally a part of India's squad for the Test series, but was released to play the Ranji Trophy for Andhra, and was called back after Shubman Gill sustained an injury in Kolkata.

Nitish only bowled 10 overs out of India's 230 overs in the Guwahati Test. On the other hand, Devdutt Padikkal continued to stay on the bench despite being with the squad.