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Former India cricketer and chief selector Kris Srikanth lashed out at Gautam Gambhir and the Indian players after the hosts crumbled in their first innings on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Monday. India suffered a dramatic batting collapse as they were bowled out for a paltry 201 in pursuit of South Africa's mammoth first-innings total of 489 runs.
At stumps on Day 3, South Africa extended their lead to 314 runs, thanks to an unbroken stand from openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton after they decided against enforcing the follow-on despite securing a 288-run lead. Targeting Gambhir over India's recent struggles in Tests, Srikkanth questioned some of India's selection calls in the Guwahati encounter.
The 1983 World Cup winner asked why Axar Patel was not included in the playing XI despite having been a consistent performer across formats. He also slammed Gambhir's policy of chop and change, and said he doesn't care about what the India head coach has to say as he has been a cricketer and a selector himself.
"I guess this can be a draw. But wrong selection policies. Why isn’t Axar Patel not playing? Was he unfit for this Test match? He has been consistent in all levels. Why so much chop change?" Srikkanth said on his youtube channel ‘cheekycheeka’.
"Every alternate match someone is making debut. They can say trial and error. Gautam Gambhir can say whatever he wants. I don’t care. I have been a former captain and former chairman of selector . I know what am talking. I am not talking through my hat. You need consistency. I gave credit to Indians when they did brilliantly in England, right," he added.
Srikkanth's response to Gambhir comes after the India head coach labelled his comments about Harshit Rana 'shameful' during India's tour of Australia last month. The former selector has called Rana a "yes man to Gambhir", following which the India head coach called the criticism shameful.
Srikkanth also slammed India's stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant, questioning his reckless batting. Pant was dismissed by Marco Jansen after scoring only 7 off 8 balls, including a six. The left-hander failed to deliver when India were under pressure.
"Rishabh pant runs down and slogs.. They will say it’s natural game.. But he is the captain.. shouldn’t he see the match situation?" said Srikkanth.
The former India selector also vented out his frustration regarding the selection of Nitish Reddy, questioning if the pace all-rounder can be a pace all-rounder for India in Tests. Reddy was dismissed cheaply on 10 in India's first innings in Guwahati when he was expected to forge a partnership with Washington Sundar, who was the only India batter to stage a fight with his gutsy 48-run knock.
“Who calls Nitish Reddy an allrounder? Can anyone see his bowling and say he is an all-rounder. He hit a hundred in MCG but what has he done after that. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, as they say. If Nitish Reddy is an all-rounder then I am great allrounder.. Just saying..how can you call him an allrounder? Does he have movement, pace? He is not some deadly batsman either. Let’s call spade a spade," said Srikkanth.
Having conceded a huge 314-run lead, India will be looking to bounce back strongly by taking early wickets and restricting South Africa to a low-key total in their second innings on Day 4 of the Test match on Tuesday.
