Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth expressed his disappointment with the BCCI selection committee’s reasoning to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain over Hardik Pandya. Srikkanth was not convinced by BCCI chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar’s response over Hardik’s captaincy snub. Agarkar had mentioned in the press conference that they had taken the ‘dressing room feedback’ into consideration to name Suryakumar as captain. Srikkanth suggested that he could not comprehend the doubts over Hardik’s fitness issues or the ‘dressing room feedback’.
“I think they have gone from the feedback of the dressing room. It must have probably been from the IPL. Fitness is something that I will not agree. He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That’s another issue. Mumbai Indians didn’t qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well. So, fitness is something that I won’t agree with,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Srikkanth not convinced by Agarkar’s reasoning
Agarkar had also mentioned that there had been fitness issues surrounding Hardik, and they wanted someone who was “consistently available.” Hardik had suffered an ankle injury during the ODI World Cup 2023 and was out of cricketing action for six months. He made a return as captain of the MI team in IPL 2024. However, the team finished at the last position in the points table.
Ajit Agarkar also said that they had received “positive feedback from the dressing room” regarding leadership skills. However, Srikkanth was not convinced by the argument and felt that Suryakumar could be a great captain, but
“Feedback from the dressing room? I am not able to understand that. Yes, Suryakumar has the qualities to be captain. I agree to that. He could prove to be a very good captain. But the reasons for dropping Hardik Pandya as captain are beating around the bush in terms of the reasoning.”
Srikkanth wants the selectors to be straightforward
Srikkanth also suggested that the selectors chose to beat around the bush rather than giving a straightforward answer that they wanted to drop Hardik as captain and move forward. Overall, he wanted the selectors to give a good explanation.
“Suryakumar is a fantastic person. I like him. So is Hardik. But the reasons that they are giving They could have said it in a straightforward manner ‘we are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain, we want to move forward. We are looking at Suryakumar as a long term’. Make it clear. Say it without fear.”
“I have also been chairman. I have picked players, dropped players and faced a lot of criticism. I am not saying I was God, I have also made mistakes. But you have to give a good explanation. I am not convinced by the reasoning.”