Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth expressed his dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir regarding the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain over Hardik Pandya. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made its stance clear through Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, who cited Hardik’s fitness as a primary concern for not selecting him for the leadership role. However, Srikkanth isn’t convinced by this rationale.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth suggested that the selectors might have based their decision on feedback from the dressing room, particularly influenced by this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) where Hardik Pandya’s team, Mumbai Indians, finished last. Srikkanth questioned the fitness argument, noting that Hardik played the entire IPL season and even bowled.
“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 with. 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,” Srikkanth said.
While acknowledging Suryakumar’s capabilities as a captain, Srikkanth believes that the selectors should have been more straightforward in their explanation.
“Feedback from the dressing room? I am not able to understand that. Yes, Suryakumar has the qualities to be captain. I agree with that. He could prove to be a very good captain. But the reasons for dropping Hardik Pandya as captain are beating around the bush in terms of the reasoning.”
Srikkanth urged the selectors to be clear and fearless in their communication.
“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 captain.’ Make it clear. Say it without fear.”
Reflecting on his own experience as a chairman of selectors, Srikkanth emphasized the importance of providing clear explanations for such decisions.
“I have also been chairman. I have picked players, dropped players, and faced a lot of criticism. I am not saying I was God, I have also made mistakes. But you have to give a good explanation. I am not convinced by the reasoning,” he asserted.