Gautam Gambhir gets trolled for poor selection calls [Source: X]The first ODI between India and England at Edgbaston on July 14 began with a wave of selection treble. Head coach Gautam Gambhir’s long-standing template of fielding an extra batting cushion at number eight once again dictated the playing eleven. Washington Sundar got the nod as the second spinner alongside Axar Patel, while Prasidh Krishna found a place in a four-man pace attack that also featured debutant Gurnoor Brar. The two inclusions came at the expense of wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and young speedster Prince Yadav, triggering a fierce debate about whether the coach’s personal faith is overriding current form for favourites.Washington Sundar And Prasidh Krishna Find Their Place In Playing XIWashington Sundar’s ODI career has never quite taken off. In 21 matches, his batting average hovers around 20 with no half-century to his name, while his off-spin has fetched 30 wickets at an average of 30.10 and an economy of 4.88. On English pitches, where finger spin rarely dominates unless there is significant grip, his selection as the sole specialist off-spinner behind Axar Patel appeared to be a safety-first move that offered little attacking threat.Prasidh Krishna’s numbers in the 50-over format read 45 wickets from 25 games at an average of 25.77, a record that flatters his recent displays. In his last encounter before this series, the pacer failed to prove in the Ireland T20Is. Also Read- Virat Kohli's Close Ally Hints Rift Between Gautam Gambhir And Ajit AgarkarInternet trolls BCCI and Gambhir for Playing XI callAt Edgbaston, where the new ball can swing, India chose to pair him with Jasprit Bumrah and Gurnoor Brar, leaving out the rested Arshdeep Singh.As soon as the team sheet was released, social media erupted with criticism aimed squarely at Gautam Gambhir. Let’s take a look at how the internet reacted to the selection of Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna.Guru prasad @GuruEarla @BCCI @GautamGambhir A genuine question: On what basis is Washington Sundar being selected for the India vs England series? His recent performances don't seem to justify his place in the playing XI. Could you please explain the selection criteria? #INDvsENG Vinodh ™ @vinodh_tm GAUTAM GAMBHIR has any relationship with WASHINGTON SUNDAR or something ? Washi should be the MOST LUCKIEST CRICKETER who has ever featured in TEAM INDIAS history ! Guy does nothing and still gets chances everywhere ! Ameya Bhise @AmeyaBhise What’s this fascination Gautam Gambhir has with Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna! They are not international cricketers! Bizarre team selection again. ODI series, too, seems will be 0-3 unless Rohit or Virat do something magical. #BCCI #Cricket #TeamIndia #EngvsInd V @vsyours_ Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar in every format playing 11 :- Jul 14, 2026, 3:43 PM Bee.Positive @BhavikK11 Failing to understand why #Kuldeep isn't in your playing XI. I understand Gambhir wants to completely finish this team, but common! @vikrantgupta73 Vinod @DvinudVinod @BCCI Worst team🤮🤮🤮. There are a lot of talented allrounders' waiting for their changes but still you are sticking with useless washington Sundar. CR7 @cinemaniac_vr Is Gambhir so scared off England bowlers or is it shubman??😂 Playing KL RAHUL after Sundar in ODI’s Biggish joker 🤡 coach and captain combo 🤷🏻♂️ Abhijeet @King__Ro45 India deserves to lose. Rohit deserves a century. Gambhir deserves to get sacked from all format today. Aizen Luger🌋🦚🏴 @_chowdary2 @Sarah_5530 Gambhir quota Ujwal Ghaywat @ujwal_ghaywat @BCCI Please sack gambhir asap His obsession with washy and prasiddha killing team No kuldeep and arshdeep is pathetic Was Kuldeep Yadav Or Prince Yadav A Better Option?Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion borders on incomprehensible when his body of work is examined. The left-arm wrist spinner has 194 scalps at an average of 27.04 and a strike rate below 32. He possesses the rare ability to break partnerships in the middle overs and trouble both right- and left-handers with his googly. On a surface where England’s top order features left-handers like Ben Duckett, Kuldeep’s angle and turn could have been a decisive factor. Prince Yadav, fresh from a T20I and ODI debut, also had a strong case to be pushed in place of Prasidh. The young right-arm quick offers raw pace and a skiddy bounce that can rush batters on any surface. In English conditions, such firepower often provides breakthroughs when containment fails. India instead opted for the experience of Prasidh Krishna, whose erratic lines have made him a liability in recent matches.While the series is being viewed as a laboratory for the 2027 World Cup, the first audition has raised uncomfortable questions about whether the selection panel and head coach are picking players based on a clear-eyed assessment of current ability or on a circle of trust.Also Read: Before Virat-Rohit's Last Appearance, Jay Shah's ICC Discussing Massive Change For 2027 World Cup
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