Former Team India captain Kris Srikkanth criticized the team management after India’s defeat to Australia in the first ODI of the current series. Srikkanth was not happy with the decision to promote all-rounder Axar Patel above wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul in the batting order, calling it “absolute nonsense”.
Team India had to face defeat by seven wickets against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The visiting team needs to reassess their batting order and strategies before the second ODI. Hoping to stay in the race for the series, they will face Australia in a do-or-die encounter at the Adelaide Oval on October 23.
KL Rahul should play ahead of Shreyas Iyer – Kris Srikkanth
After being sent in to bat in overcast conditions, India could only manage 136/9 in the rain-interrupted 26-over contest. KL Rahul, who came in at number six, put up some resistance and scored 38 runs in 31 balls, which included two fours and two sixes.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth criticized the team management for promoting Axar Patel above KL Rahul in the batting order. Srikkanth described the move as “absolute nonsense” and said that Rahul should have been given priority over Shreyas Iyer.
Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, “I had already said that KL Rahul should play ahead of Shreyas Iyer. This was an absurd decision of the team and management. You are leaving him and looking anywhere else. If he scores, he scores a lot. Axar Patel going ahead of KL is absolute nonsense.”
I would have sent KL Rahul also at four o’clock – Kris Srikkanth
Men in Blue promoted Akshar Patel to number five. The left handed batsman scored 31 runs. Srikkanth said that KL Rahul should have faced more balls and added that Rahul should bat at number four to make the most of his talent.
Srikkanth further said, “The issue is not whether Akshar played well or not. You have a best and classy player in your XI. KL should have come at number five. If I were the captain, I would have sent him at number four also. The conditions in the subcontinent are different than in Australia. He should play the maximum number of balls.”
Possibly things could have gone in India’s favor – Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth also pointed out a flaw in the batting order which caused loss to the team. Washington Sundar was sent in ahead of Nitish Kumar Reddy, who could score only 10 runs from the same number of balls. Nitish scored unbeaten 19 runs including two sixes in 11 balls at a strike rate of 172.73.
Srikkanth said that if India had taken their total closer to 160 without taking any more wickets, the DLS target might have been more favourable. He further said that Nitish should have batted ahead of Sundar instead of preferring left-right batting combination.
“If they had gone to 160 and not lost too many wickets, the DLS score would have been higher and perhaps things could have gone in India’s favour,” Srikkanth said.
,If we talk neutrally, the rain actually saved them. He made another mistake by not sending Nitish after KL and Akshar were out. You took him in the team as a big hitter and then kept him forward. Don’t go after left-right combination“he adds.
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