NEW DELHI: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir continues to draw criticism for his constant chopping and changing of the XI, with the frequent experimentation leaving the side on the brink of losing another home Test series.
Former India captain and ex–chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth did not hold back in slamming Gambhir after South Africa took command of the second Test in Guwahati, having already won the opening match in Kolkata.
"Why isn't Axar Patel playing? Was he unfit? He has been consistent at all levels. Why so much chopping and changing?" Srikkanth said, criticising the omission of the all-rounder. "Every alternate match someone is making a debut. They can call it trial and error. Gautam Gambhir can say whatever he wants - I don't care. I have been a former captain and a former chairman of selectors. I know what I'm talking about," Srikkanth said on his YouTube show Cheeky Cheeka.
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Srikkanth expressed his disbelief and frustration at India's batting performance. He pointed out that Kuldeep Yadav had earlier described the pitch as flat and unresponsive ("nothing was happening"), meaning it should have been good for batting.
"I don't understand," he said. "Kuldeep Yadav said nothing was happening on the pitch. Then today we see Indians edging to slips against Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, and also getting out to bouncers from Marco Jansen - five wickets to short balls on a supposed 'road'."
He commended Harmer for sticking to the basics of traditional spin bowling, subtly implying that India's own spinners had fallen short of that standard. "Harmer loops it up, flights the ball. Our spinners fire it flat," he noted.
The former opener also took aim at the batting group, including stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant, whose ill-judged charge down the pitch to heave Jansen ended in a straightforward catch behind the wicket.
"They will say it's his natural game, but he is the captain," Srikkanth said. "Shouldn't he see the match situation?"
