Former Team India captain Chris Srikanth criticized the team management for the upcoming Australia tour to include Pacer Harshit Rana in the ODI team. The cricketer-turn-commentator also said that Rana is constantly selected in the Indian squad as he is a favorite of head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Despite the absence of several senior players, Rana was nominated in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australia Tour. He has played only five ODIs, taking an average of 20.70 wickets with an average economy rate of 5.69. Mohammad Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Prasad Krishna are other pacers in India’s squad.
Harshit Rana is Gautam Gambhir’s favorite – Chris Srikanth
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chris Srikanth said that Gautam Gambhir is showing parties towards Harshit Rana. Srikanth said that Rana is a regular pick as he is “Gautam Gambhir’s favorite”, saying that he is the first name on the team sheet after Shubman Gill.
Srikanth said, “Harshit Rana is a permanent because he is a favorite of Gautam Gambhir. He is always a certainty and the first name in the team sheet after Shubman Gill.”
Harshit, who was part of India’s recent Asia Cup winning squad, made his international debut in forms within four months. Jasprit Bumrah, who portrayed both the Asia Cup and the West Indies Test series, has been rested for the one -day leg of the upcoming Australia Tour.
Where did Nitish Kumar Reddy come from? – Chris Srikanth
The former Indian opener also questioned the inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy in the ODI squad. Srikanth said that Nitish Kumar is not a real all -rounder and will struggle on Australian pitches. He said that Reddy is mainly a batsman who can bowl and does not fit India’s ODI plans.
“Where have Nitish Kumar Reddy come from? If you ask him, he would say that he is a replacement of Hardik Pandya. But the real replacement for Hardik is Ravindra Jadeja, not Nitish Kumar Reddy. Nitish Kumar Reddy will be clobered in Australia at Odice,” Srikakant said.
“If you take him as an all-rounder, not at all fair. He is just a batsman who can bowl. He was not even in the Champions Trophy team. Nitish Kumar Reddy was not even in the ODI plan of things. He has adjusted him to bring him to the squad somehow.”
He wants to make Shubman Gill an all -format captain – Chris Srikanth
Chris Srikanth believes that the management is supporting Shubman Gill as part of the plan to prepare India’s future all-format captain. However, Gill struggled in the Asia Cup, scoring 127 runs in seven innings, without just 21.16 without fifty.
“He was not in my Asia Cup squad. But he will remain with him as they want to make him an all-format captain. It is very clear. Whether he scores a big score or not, he will be made the all-format captain,” Srikanth said (through the above source).
Team India will kick Australia’s white-ball tour with three Odis, followed by a five-match T20I series. Gill has been appointed as the ODI captain of India in place of Rohit Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the T20I side, serving Gill as his deputy.
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