Former India opener Kris Srikkanth slammed the BCCI's move to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain after the young batter failed to perform in the second T20I against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Stadium in Melbourne.
Srikkanth, who was a part of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team, reckons that the move to appoint Gill as Suryakumar's deputy has restricted India's flexibility in the selection for the shortest format of the game.
Kris Srikkanth on Shubman Gill's vice-captaincy
Gill, who was appointed as Rohit Sharma's successor to lead India in Tests, was recalled for T20Is and appointed vice-captain. Srikkanth said that India will not drop Gill even after he failed to perform in the remaining T20Is against Australia.
"They won't drop Gill for the next three games. They are not worried about anything else. He is the vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, that's fixed now. It's also fixed that he's the future T20I captain. So they have to play with him and build the balance for the rest of the side. He's a certainty or else on what basis has he been appointed the vice-captain?" said Kris Srikkanth on his youtube channel.
Srikkanth questions Jaiswal's omission
He also questioned Yashasvi Jaiswal's omission from India's T20I squad and no fixed position for batters likes of Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.
"Yashasvi Jaiswal is waiting in the wings. He's not there in the team. With Gill's inclusion, the overall balance has gone for a toss so they aren't sure of what to do. Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma don't have a fixed position and Arshdeep Singh is missing out on the 11. The only good thing is the T20 World Cup is in India so they'll escape."
Srikkanth for India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad
Srikkant, who coached India A, believes that only Hardik Pandya came into the playing XI because the side will feature with the same squad in the T20 World Cup 2026.
"India has a lot of players like Abhishek. If players like Yashasvi Jaiswal are given an opportunity, they'll utilise it. But now he has no window to come into the side. Only Hardik Pandya can come into the 11 and nobody else. Jaiswal also came through the IPL and has an outstanding record in all formats and the IPL. I am not sure why he isn't playing with a brilliant IPL and T20I record. Give him the same opportunities, he'll destroy bowlers at the top," said Srikkanth.
After defeating India in the second T20I, Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second clash between India and Australia will take place on November 02.