India’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan has sparked plenty of discussion around team selection. Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath offering a blunt assessment of the squad. Subramaniam Badrinath suggested that some of head coach Gautam Gambhir‘s preferred players have returned to the Indian setup, while also raising questions over the roles of Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The Men in Blue are scheduled to play three T20Is against Afghanistan, with all three matches set to take place in Delhi from September 13. The series will provide several players with an opportunity to strengthen their claims ahead of India’s upcoming white-ball assignments.
Shubramaniam Badrinath launches attack on Gautam Gambhir
One of the biggest talking points from Subramaniam Badrinath’s comments was his assessment of Washington Sundar. The former cricketer believes Sundar has received significant backing within Indian cricket and now needs to make the most of the opportunities coming his way.
Badrinath also questioned the inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy, particularly because he does not consider the youngster a genuine bowling all-rounder. According to him, Reddy’s stronger skill remains his batting rather than his bowling.
Badrinath explained his thoughts on his YouTube channel, saying:
” On first look, the coach’s favorites are back. Washington Sundar is getting tremendous backing in Indian cricket. He needs to really make use of it. And somehow, I don’t rate Nitish Kumar Reddy so high. That’s because of his bowling. I still feel he’s a batter and not someone I rate with the ball.”
The comments have added another layer to the discussion surrounding India’s squad, especially with several returning players competing for limited spots.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Return is a huge positive- Subramaniam Badrinath
Badrinath, however, was much more positive when discussing the return of Jasprit Bumrah. The premier Indian fast bowler is back in the squad after missing the recent Test series in Sri Lanka because of a left-knee injury suffered during the ODI series in England in July. Badrinath described Bumrah’s return as the biggest positive for India ahead of the Afghanistan T20Is and even suggested that the pacer may have communicated his desire to play the series to the team management.
He said:
”Bumrah’s return is a huge positive. It could also have been that Bumrah told the management that he wanted to play these three matches. Then They have to select him. We don’t know that. Bumrah might have spoken to Gambhir or the selection committee and said he wants to play because he hasn’t played cricket for a long. So, it could have been Bumrah’s option,’
Bumrah’s availability is undoubtedly a major boost for India, particularly because of his ability to change the course of T20 match with the ball.
It’s good to see Sanju Samson back- Subramaniam Badrinath
Subramaniam Badrinath also welcomed the return of Sanju Samson, whose place in India’s T20I setup has been a subject of debate in recent months. The wicketkeeper-batter was dropped from the playing XI midway through India’s T20I series in England, although he returned for the final match before being left out of the squad for the subsequent Zimbabwe series.
Badrinath believes Samson deserve another opportunity and feels that the team has experimented with his position too much.
He said:
”I Also like Sanju Samson’s selection. They’ve been playing around too much with his place. So, it’s good to see him back,”
With Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson all returning to or featuring in the squad, India vs Afghanistan series could provide important clues about the team management’s plans. Badrinath’s comments have certainly made the selection debate more interesting, but the performances in the three-match T20I series will ultimately determine whether these returning players can justify their places in India’s plans.
Also Read:Â IND vs AFG: Jasprit Bumrah Named For Afghanistan T20Is