Former cricketer Kris Srikkanth criticized Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir after his poor performance in the first innings against South Africa in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Srikanth said that Gambhir is continuously making cuts, due to which the stability has deteriorated.
The Men in Blue were all out for 201 runs in 83.5 overs in the first innings. Marco Johnson was the best bowler for the visiting team with six wickets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar showed struggle against the South African bowling attack. India could never get close to the Proteas’ first innings score of 489 runs.
Gautam Gambhir can say whatever he wants – Kris Srikkanth
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kris Srikkanth raised questions on the team selection and the frequent changes under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir. Srikkanth said that Axar Patel should not be dropped considering his consistency across all formats.
“I think it could be a draw. But wrong selection policies. Why is Axar Patel not playing? Was he unfit for this Test match? He has been performing consistently at all levels. Why so much change?” Srikanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Chikichika’.
“In every alternate match, there is someone making his 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 selectors; I know what I’m talking about, I’m not talking through my hatYou need consistency, When the Indians performed brilliantly in England, I gave them credit, right?”
Indians who took Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj to slip – Chris Srikkanth
Srikkanth said that India still lost wickets in the slips on short balls of Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj and Marco Johnson. Srikkanth said the hosts’ struggle highlighted the gap between their assessment of situations and their actual execution on the field.
“I don’t understand. I saw Kuldeep Yadav’s quotes (at the end of the second day’s play) about how ‘the pitch is a road, nothing happens’. Then today we see the Indians getting Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj out in the slips. And also getting out to Marco Jansen’s bouncer.. five wickets off short balls!” Srikanth said.
“Simon Harmer loops it… flies the ball unlike our spinners who were shooting it flat. And Jensen takes wickets off bouncers on ‘road wickets’.”
Rishabh Pant runs down and shouts slogans – Kris Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth also criticized the Indian batsmen for their shot selection. He criticized Rishabh Pant for running down the pitch to provoke Marco Jensen and said that the captain should understand the match situation better.
“Rishabh Pant runs and shouts slogans.. He will say it is a natural game. But he is the captain. Shouldn’t he see the match situation?” Srikanth said.
India were in a comfortable position at 95-1 at one point, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Pant moved down the pitch to attack Marco Jansen, but the ball took the edge of his bat and went to the wicketkeeper. Careless shots and bowling by the Proteas ensured that India took a big lead in the first innings.
Also read: KL Rahul again dismissed Aiden Markram in Guwahati Test, Jasprit Bumrah disappointed.
