Overview:
Srikkanth speculated that Badoni's inclusion in the team was likely due to his time at LSG, where Gautam Gambhir was the mentor. He expressed that he could not think of any other reason for the selection.
Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth has questioned the inclusion of Ayush Badoni in India’s ODI squad for the ongoing series against New Zealand, calling it “completely unfair” and suggesting bias in the selection process.
Srikkanth questioned the reasoning behind Badoni’s selection, stating that his recent domestic form did not justify a place in the ODI squad. Referring to his performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he pointed out that with such performances, Badoni had no chance of being selected. He also highlighted that the selection criteria appeared to be inconsistent.
Srikkanth stated that the selection criteria seemed unclear. “For some players, the expectation is to score runs. But for others, they get picked even without performing,” he said, voicing his concerns about the mixed signals this sends to domestic players who are waiting for their chance.
Srikkanth expressed his doubt about the player’s ability to change the course of the game. He questioned whether the player could step in at number six and play aggressive shots, particularly hitting sixes, suggesting that he couldn’t understand the rationale behind such a selection.
“He’s not the type of player who can turn the game in your favour. Can he come in at number six and hit sixes? I just don’t get it. What rubbish is this? How is he even considered a bowling all-rounder?” he said.
Srikkanth speculated that Badoni’s inclusion in the team was likely due to his time at LSG, where Gautam Gambhir was the mentor. He expressed that he could not think of any other reason for the selection. “He played for LSG and had a mentor there, which is probably why he’s in the team now,” he added.