Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Badrinath Questions Gambhir’s All-Rounder Strategy for India T20Is
Subramaniam Badrinath questioned how India is choosing players for its T20I team.
He focused on coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for all-rounders.
All-rounders are players who can both bat and bowl.
Badrinath said this preference may have affected selections when some players had fitness questions.
Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy were named in the first squad for the Afghanistan series.
The report said all three were initially waiting for fitness clearance.
Badrinath also said India has not found a proven replacement for Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder.
Gambhir’s stated strategy is to seek players with multiple skills, but Badrinath questioned whether it is producing the desired results.
Subramaniam Badrinath questioned Gautam Gambhir’s continued preference for all-rounders in India’s team selection.
Badrinath said Gambhir’s demand for multi-skilled players may have influenced selections despite fitness concerns.
Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy were included in India’s initial 15-man Afghanistan T20I squad.
All three players were initially awaiting fitness clearance, according to the report.
Badrinath said India has not yet found a proven all-rounder capable of replacing Hardik Pandya.
- Who
- Former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Subramaniam Badrinath questioned India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s team strategy.
- What
- Badrinath questioned Gambhir’s preference for all-rounders and its effect on player selection.
- When
- The report does not specify when the comments were made.
- Where
- Badrinath made the comments on his YouTube channel, Cric it with Badri.
- Why
- Badrinath said the strategy may be leading to selections despite fitness concerns and has not produced a proven replacement for Hardik Pandya.
Badrinath’s Criticism
Gambhir’s Multi-Skilled Approach
All-rounder selections
Badrinath’s Criticism
Badrinath questioned why Gambhir continues to support Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy when they were initially awaiting fitness clearance.
Gambhir’s Multi-Skilled Approach
Gambhir’s approach, as described in the report, prioritizes players who can contribute in multiple skills, which explains the emphasis on all-rounders.
Replacing Hardik Pandya
Badrinath’s Criticism
Badrinath argued that the strategy has not yet produced a proven all-rounder capable of taking Hardik Pandya’s place.
Gambhir’s Multi-Skilled Approach
The approach continues to seek multi-skilled options, although the report does not provide a direct response from Gambhir or identify a confirmed replacement.
- Commentator
- Subramaniam Badrinath
- India head coach
- Gautam Gambhir
- Players mentioned
- Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Series
- Afghanistan T20I series
- Initial squad size
- 15 players
- Fitness issue
- The three mentioned players were initially awaiting fitness clearance
- Replacement concern
- Badrinath said no proven all-rounder has yet emerged to replace Hardik Pandya