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Srikkanth Criticizes India’s Full-Strength Afghanistan T20I Selection
India chose a very strong team for its upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
Former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth thinks this was the wrong decision.
He says younger players should have been given a chance instead.
He believes recent losses to Ireland and England made the selectors afraid to take risks.
Srikkanth called the decision a desperate move.
Four players still need to prove they are fit enough to play.
They will take part in match simulations at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence.
The team will join India’s squad only if they pass the required tests.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth called India’s full-strength squad for Afghanistan a “desperate move” after losses to Ireland and England.
He said India should have used the three-match T20I series to give younger players opportunities.
Srikkanth noted that the Afghanistan squad is almost identical to the team selected for England.
Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are subject to fitness clearance.
The four players must complete match simulations and pass tests at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence.
- Who
- India’s selectors and team management, including Ajit Agarkar, were criticized by former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
- What
- India selected a full-strength squad for a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, with four players subject to fitness clearance.
- Where
- The selected players are expected to undergo testing at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before joining the team in New Delhi.
- When
- The squad was announced earlier in the week; the report was published on September 5, 2026.
- Why
- According to Srikkanth, recent series losses to Ireland and England led the selectors to avoid risks and choose their strongest available squad.
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Selectors’ Approach
Strength of the squad
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth argued that India should have rested some senior players and used the Afghanistan series to test youngsters.
Selectors’ Approach
The selectors chose a full-strength squad after India’s losses to Ireland and England, aiming to avoid further risks.
Reason for the selection
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth said the decision appeared driven by fear and recent defeats, describing it as desperate.
Selectors’ Approach
The reported selection reflected the team management’s decision to field its strongest squad following the recent series results.
Fitness clearance
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth questioned whether passing tests at the Bengaluru Centre of Excellence would prove that the four players were match-fit.
Selectors’ Approach
The four players were made subject to fitness clearance and must complete match simulations and necessary tests before joining the team.
Key facts
- Series
- Three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan
- Critic
- Former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth
- Selection criticism
- Srikkanth said the full-strength squad was a desperate move and a mistake
- Players awaiting clearance
- Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Fitness process
- The four players must complete match simulations and pass tests at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence
- Recent losses cited
- India suffered series defeats against Ireland and England
- Captaincy change
- Shreyas Iyer took over as India’s captain after the T20 World Cup win earlier in the year
Quotes
Krishnamachari Srikkanth
Former Indian cricketer and commentator
“After the series losses in Ireland and England, the selectors have decided not to take a chance and picked a full-strength squad for Afghanistan. They are going all guns blazing, but this is a mistake.”
news18.com
“It is against teams like Afghanistan that you should try out youngsters. Instead, you have picked a full-strength squad out of fear. It feels like a desperate move after the Ireland and England losses.”
news18.com
Sources
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