NEW DELHI: After India’s crushing defeat against Australia in the second T20I in Melbourne on Friday, former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth launched a strong critique of the team management for appointing Shubman Gill as the T20I vice-captain.
He argued that the move has disrupted the side’s balance and caused confusion in selection, especially with Gill struggling to make an impact in recent games.
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Questioning Gill’s Appointment
Gill, who returned to the T20I side at the Asia Cup has managed just 169 runs in his last nine innings at an average of 24.14. Srikkanth questioned the reasoning behind giving him the vice-captaincy despite such a lean run.
“They won’t drop Gill for the next three games,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. “He is the vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, that’s fixed now. It’s also fixed that he’s the future T20I captain. So they have to play with him and build the balance for the rest of the side. He’s a certainty, or else on what basis has he been appointed the vice-captain?”
Srikkanth claimed that this automatic selection has blocked opportunities for in-form batters and created instability in the lineup. “With Gill’s inclusion, the overall balance has gone for a toss,” he remarked. “Players like Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma don’t have fixed positions anymore, and someone like Arshdeep Singh is missing out on the eleven.”
Backing Jaiswal for More Chances
The former captain also expressed support for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been overlooked despite strong domestic and IPL performances.
“If players like Yashasvi get consistent chances, they’ll make the most of it,” he said. “Give him the same opportunities, and he’ll destroy bowlers at the top.”
Srikkanth concluded that while India might avoid criticism for now with the T20 World Cup being played at home, such selection choices could hurt the team’s long-term balance and competitiveness.
