Former India captain and ex-chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has unleashed a blistering criticism of head coach Gautam Gambhir's team management following India's disappointing performance in the ongoing Test series against South Africa. The explosive comments came during Srikkanth's YouTube show 'Cheeky Cheeka', which he hosts alongside his son Anirudha.
Selection Policy Under Fire
Srikkanth expressed deep concern about India's continuous rotation of players, particularly questioning the omission of all-rounder Axar Patel from the playing eleven. "Why didn't Axar play? Was he injured? He's been consistent everywhere. Why this constant chopping and changing?" the former selector demanded during his passionate rant.
The cricket veteran didn't hold back in his assessment of Gambhir's approach, describing it as endless trial and error. Displaying his credentials as both former captain and selection committee chairman, Srikkanth stated firmly: "Gautam Gambhir can say whatever he wants — I don't care. I've been a captain and a chairman of selectors. I know what I'm talking about."
Pitch Conditions and Batting Collapse
Srikkanth expressed utter disbelief at India's batting collapse on a surface that their own players had previously described as a batting paradise. He pointed out the stark contrast between Indian players' assessment and the actual match situation where South African bowlers dominated proceedings.
"Kuldeep Yadav said nothing was happening on the wicket," Srikkanth recalled. "But today our batters edged to slip against Harmer and Maharaj and also fell to Jansen's short balls. Five wickets to bouncers on a so-called road."
The former opener specifically praised Simon Harmer's classical off-spin bowling, noting his effective use of loop and drift, while simultaneously criticizing Indian spinners for delivering the ball too flat without sufficient variation.
Captaincy and Team Management Concerns
Srikkanth didn't spare the batting unit either, with Rishabh Pant's reckless attempt to slog Marco Jansen drawing particular disapproval. Addressing the potential defense of Pant's aggressive approach, Srikkanth countered: "They will say it's his natural game. But he's the captain. Shouldn't he understand the situation?"
While acknowledging that India might still manage to salvage a draw from the match, Srikkanth insisted that the core problem lies in selection inconsistency and flawed policies. "Wrong policies," he stated emphatically. "You need stability."
This latest outburst marks another chapter in the ongoing heated exchanges between Srikkanth and Gambhir. Earlier, Srikkanth had labeled pacer Harshit Rana as a "yes man to Gambhir," a remark that prompted the Indian coach to describe the comment as "shameful."
With South Africa firmly in command in Guwahati and holding a 1-0 series lead after their Kolkata victory, the pressure continues to mount on India's team management. Srikkanth's sharp critique ensures that Gambhir and the selection committee remain under intense scrutiny as the Test match progresses.
