Indian Team Scared Of Afghanistan? Former Captain Drops A Bombshell

India scared of Afghanistan, believes former captain [Source: AFP]

The BCCI has named a near full-strength Indian squad for the upcoming ‘away’ T20I series against Afghanistan. The selection committee even included as many as four players in the squad, whose availability is still subject to fitness clearance. 

The decisions taken by the Ajit Agarkar-led committee does not seem to have sit down well with former India captain and 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth. According to Srikkanth, the Indian selectors should not have assembled a full-strength squad against Afghanistan, and must have used the series as a platform for the youngsters instead.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth calls out BCCI’s “desperation” for Team India

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Krishnamachari Srikkanth has criticised the Indian selectors for picking a full-strength squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan.

According to Srikkanth, the BCCI is not willing to take a chance in the series, considering the Indian cricket team recently suffered demoralising series whitewashes in Ireland and England. The former Indian skipper added that the series against Afghanistan should have been an ideal platform for young talents in the country.

Also Read- Full List Of Changes In India Squad for Afghanistan T20Is Compared To Zimbabwe Tour

He said, “After the series losses in Ireland and England, the selectors have decided not to take a chance and picked a full-strength squad for Afghanistan. They are going all guns blazing, but this is a mistake. It’s against teams like Afghanistan that you should try out youngsters. Instead, you’ve picked a full-strength squad out of fear.”

The former cricketer added, “It feels like a desperation move after the Ireland and England losses. But this squad is almost the same as the one they picked for England.”

Srikkanth questions disregard of match fitness

Krishnamachari Srikkanth also questioned the selection of Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. It is worth noting that each of the four aforementioned players recently suffered injuries and their availability is subject to fitness clearance.

Srikkanth believes that the selection committee should not have picked the recovering players without having their match fitness proven.

He said “This is not a question of ability. Harshit Rana has proved to be a very good bowler in T20s, and Nitish Kumar Reddy is brilliant in the short format. But why pick them without match-fitness being proven is the question.”

Is India correct in picking full-strength squad vs Afghanistan?

Contrary to Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s claims, the BCCI selection committee may well have selected a full-strength squad, considering pretty much the same set of players will also take part in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan. 

Even if that was not the case, Team India indeed recently lost a T20I series in Ireland and England, prompting new captain Shreyas Iyer to try and yield positive results for the side after his dismal beginnings. 

But more than that, the Indian cricket team pretty much needs to identify and shortlist its core squad in a bid to defend their world title in the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 

In any case, Afghanistan is not a team to be taken lightly in any sense. Just a couple of years ago, the same Afghanistan side reached the semifinal of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. 

Also Read- KL Rahul To Miss Duleep Trophy Final, Tilak Varma Confirms