Following India’s chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar’s explanation for Hardik Pandya’s demotion, former Indian opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth has raised concerns about how the all-rounder is being handled. Srikkanth has questioned the decision and the rationale behind the selector’s treatment of Pandya, suggesting that there may be issues with how the selection committee is managing the star all-rounder. This critique adds to the ongoing discussion about Pandya’s role and status within the Indian cricket team.
Hardik Pandya Dropped From Captaincy:
With Gautam Gambhir recently appointed as head coach, Suryakumar Yadav emerged as a top contender for the captaincy role in the lead-up to the Sri Lanka tour. Ultimately, Yadav secured the position, surpassing Hardik Pandya, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Despite being a strong candidate to succeed Rohit Sharma as captain, Hardik Pandya was not chosen for the leadership role. The Indian selectors opted for Yadav, highlighting a shift in leadership preferences as the team prepares for the upcoming series. This decision reflects the selectors’ strategic direction and their confidence in Yadav’s ability to lead.
During Gautam Gambhir’s inaugural press conference as head coach, chief selector Agarkar revealed that Hardik Pandya’s frequent injuries led to his loss of the T20 captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav. Pandya also relinquished his vice-captaincy, which has now been taken over by Shubman Gill across limited-overs formats, following a standout performance in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth Shared Opinion Regarding the Captaincy:
On YouTube, Krishnamachari Srikkanth offered a rebuttal to Ajit Agarkar’s explanation for Hardik Pandya’s exclusion. Following Agarkar’s detailed rationale behind the decision, Srikkanth voiced his disagreement, questioning the chief selector’s judgment. His response presents an alternative viewpoint on the handling of Pandya and challenges the reasons provided by the selection committee for his omission.
Srikkanth said, “ I think they have gone from the feedback of the dressing room. It must have probably been from the IPL. Fitness is something that I will not agree. He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That’s another issue. Mumbai Indians didn’t qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well. So, fitness is something that I won’t agree with.”
He concluded, “ Suryakumar is a fantastic person. I like him. So is Hardik. But the reasons that they are giving They could have said it in a straightforward manner ‘we are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain, we want to move forward. We are looking at Suryakumar as a long term’. Make it clear. Say it without fear.”
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