Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management for dropping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the final two T20Is against New Zealand, accusing them of creating an atmosphere of insecurity within the team.
India had taken a 3-0 lead in the five-match series but lost the final two matches to settle for a 3-2 victory. Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI for both games after scoring 45 off 19 balls in the third T20I in Wellington because Ishan Kishan, the player he replaced in the second and third T20I, returned to the side after recovering from injury, while Sanju Samson retained his place despite struggling for runs.
Srikkanth questioned the decision to leave out the teenager, particularly
after his impressive performance in New Zealand conditions. He said the management should focus on giving the youngster a consistent run rather than dropping him after a single opportunity.
“I can’t understand why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi didn’t play the last two games. He is in excellent form and proved his mettle in New Zealand conditions in the third match. You have to groom this boy. Instead, you play him in one match and drop him in the next. You are creating an atmosphere of insecurity for the players, be it Samson or Sooryavanshi. What the management is doing is sheer foolishness,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
The former opener also highlighted Samson’s recent struggles in overseas conditions. However, he clarified that he was not calling for Samson to be dropped altogether. Instead, he suggested that India should rotate their three opening options more consistently.
“I am not saying they should drop Sanju Samson altogether, but give him a break or rotate between the three openers equally. What you cannot do is keep benching Sooryavanshi,” he said.
Sooryavanshi made his India debut against England earlier this year after earning his maiden call-up for the Ireland tour.
Srikkanth further questioned why the teenager had not received more opportunities during India’s previous assignments against comparatively weaker bowling attacks.
“West Indies had a sub-par bowling attack; Sooryavanshi should have been given an opportunity across those five matches. Similarly, he missed out during the Afghanistan and Ireland series,” he added.
