Former Indian cricketer S. Badrinath recently made a pointed remark regarding head coach Gautam Gambhir following the announcement by the national selection committee of the T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan, set to commence on September 13 in Delhi.
The 15-member team features several notable adjustments, including the anticipated return of key players recovering from injuries. Among those returning are pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounders Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana, all of whom are still awaiting fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
In light of Gambhir’s preferences, Badrinath expressed skepticism regarding the inclusion of Sundar and Reddy, who have yet to prove themselves in this format.
“At first glance, it appears that the coach’s favorites are back in the mix. Washington Sundar has received significant support within Indian cricket, and he really needs to capitalize on this opportunity. However, I do not hold Nitish Kumar Reddy in high regard, especially due to his bowling capabilities. I continue to view him primarily as a batsman,” Badrinath remarked on his YouTube channel.
Despite his criticisms, Badrinath highlighted that Bumrah’s potential return is a significant advantage for the team as they prepare to defend their gold medal at the Asian Games later this month in Japan. Bumrah last played during the ODI series in England in July before suffering a left knee injury that sidelined him for the following tour to Sri Lanka.
“Bumrah’s comeback is a major positive for the squad. It’s also possible that he communicated his desire to participate in these three matches to the management, which would necessitate his selection. We cannot be sure, but Bumrah may have expressed to Gambhir or the selection committee his eagerness to play after such a long absence from the game,” Badrinath added.
The Indian squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan includes: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana*.
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