Badrinath Questions Gambhir's All-Rounder Push After Harshit Rana's Injury

Former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Subramaniam Badrinath has questioned head coach Gautam Gambhir’s continued preference for all-rounders, arguing that the team’s push for multi-skilled players may be influencing selections despite fitness concerns. His remarks have renewed debate over India’s squad-building approach following Harshit Rana’s latest injury setback.

India’s original squad for the Afghanistan T20I series included Rana, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with all three initially subject to fitness clearance. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cric it with Badri, Badrinath said Sundar and Reddy were established all-rounders, while Rana appeared to be part of an effort to develop another player capable of contributing in multiple departments.

“All three come into the all-rounder category. In this, Sundar and Nitish are definite all-rounders. But with Harshit Rana, they are trying very hard to make him an all-rounder,” Badrinath said. He added that Gambhir appeared “hell-bent on creating all-rounders and multidimensional cricketers”, claiming that the approach had resulted in players being selected even when they were dealing with injury issues.

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Badrinath also argued that India’s search for a successor to Hardik Pandya had not yet produced a proven all-rounder who could consistently deliver with both bat and ball. He said the desperation to create more such players was affecting selection decisions, particularly when some of them had not fully cleared fitness requirements.

The comments gained relevance after Rana was ruled out of both the Afghanistan series and the upcoming Asian Games following a fresh rectus femoris strain suffered during a match simulation on September 7. Yash Thakur was named as his replacement, while Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy were cleared to play. Gambhir’s strategy has increasingly focused on extending the batting order and creating seven or eight bowling options through players with multiple skills, with Washington, Reddy, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel offering varying levels of all-round ability.

India will begin their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi on September 13, followed by matches on September 15 and 17. Shreyas Iyer will lead the side, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain, while Bumrah’s return strengthens the bowling attack. The same core will then feature in the Asian Games in Japan, where India are the defending champions, with the men’s cricket quarter-finals scheduled for September 28, followed by the semi-finals on October 1 and the final on October 3.

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