Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Srikkanth Slams India’s Full-Strength Afghanistan T20I Selection
India picked a very strong team for a three-match T20 cricket series against Afghanistan.
Former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth thinks this was the wrong choice.
He says India should have given younger players a chance.
Srikkanth believes recent losses to Ireland and England made the selectors too worried to take risks.
He called the selection a desperate move.
Four players still need to show that they are fit enough to play.
They will complete match simulations and other tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
If they pass, they will join the team in New Delhi.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth called India’s full-strength squad for Afghanistan a “desperate move” and “a mistake.”
He said recent series losses to Ireland and England led selectors to avoid risks.
Srikkanth argued that India should have used the Afghanistan series to test younger players.
He said the Afghanistan squad was almost identical to the team selected for England.
Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy require fitness clearance before joining the team.
- Who
- India’s selectors and team management, led by 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.
- When
- The squad was announced earlier in the week; the report was published on September 5, 2026.
- Where
- The four players are scheduled to undergo testing at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before potentially joining the team in New Delhi.
- Why
- Srikkanth said recent series losses to Ireland and England caused the selectors to avoid risks and choose a full-strength squad.
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Selectors’ Reported Approach
Squad strength
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth said India should have selected some younger players instead of fielding a full-strength squad against Afghanistan.
Selectors’ Reported Approach
After the losses to Ireland and England, the selectors chose a full-strength team and decided not to take further risks.
Selection rationale
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth said the decision appeared driven by fear of more defeats and called it a desperate move.
Selectors’ Reported Approach
The reported selection followed India’s recent series losses and reflected an effort to use the strongest available squad.
Similarity to England squad
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth noted that the Afghanistan squad was almost the same as the team selected for England, limiting opportunities for new players.
Selectors’ Reported Approach
The selectors retained a largely similar group for the Afghanistan series, according to Srikkanth’s assessment.
Fitness clearance
Srikkanth’s Criticism
Srikkanth questioned whether clearing tests at the Bengaluru Centre of Excellence necessarily proves that the four players are match-fit.
Selectors’ Reported Approach
The selection process requires Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy to complete match simulations and pass necessary tests before joining the team.
- Series
- Three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan
- Critic
- Former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth
- Selection criticism
- Srikkanth described the full-strength squad as 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 undergo match simulations and clear necessary tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence
- Recent losses cited
- India lost series against Ireland and England
- Captaincy change
- Shreyas Iyer took over as India’s captain after the T20 World Cup win earlier in the year
