India’s recent T20I tour of Ireland and England turned out to be a disappointing one, with the team failing to win a single series. While the tour was meant to help India build a squad for the 2028 T20 World Cup, it instead sparked several debates over team selection and the treatment of young players.
Former India captain and chief selector Kris Srikkanth has now questioned the decisions made by captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir during the tour. He said that if players are being judged only on their performances, the same standard should also be applied to the captain and coach.
India lost the T20I series 0-2 to Ireland and suffered a 4-0 defeat against England, while the second match of the England series was washed out due to rain. The poor results have raised concerns about the team’s planning and selection strategy.
One of the biggest talking points was the handling of young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The youngster became the youngest player to represent India when he made his debut in the second T20I against England. However, after registering three low scores, he was dropped from the playing XI for the fifth match.
At the toss before that game, Shreyas Iyer explained that the decision was taken in the best interests of the team and with an eye on the future.
Srikkanth, however, was unhappy with both the decision and the explanation. He said that young players need confidence and support, especially early in their careers. According to him, if poor performances are the reason for dropping players, the same approach should also be used when evaluating the captain and head coach after such disappointing results.
The former opener also questioned the frequent changes between Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He said that if Sanju Samson was considered the best choice, he should have continued in the side. At the same time, he wondered why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was brought into the team only to be dropped after a few matches, adding that this is not the ideal way to develop young talent.
After the series, Shreyas Iyer also mentioned that having too many left-handed batters in the playing XI was one of the reasons behind Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s exclusion.
Srikkanth also shared an incident from Sachin Tendulkar’s early days in international cricket. He recalled that when Sachin Tendulkar made his India debut at the age of 16, he was assured that he would not be dropped during the tour and was encouraged to play without fear. Srikkanth believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi deserved similar backing from the current team management, saying that young cricketers perform better when they are given confidence instead of being judged after only a few matches.
Despite missing out later in the England series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be part of India’s tour of Zimbabwe and has also been included in the squad for the Asian Games, giving him another opportunity to prove himself on the international stage.
Srikkanth’s comments have once again highlighted the importance of balancing results with player development, especially when grooming youngsters who are expected to become the future of Indian cricket.
Do you agree with Kris Srikkanth?
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