Former India cricketer Hanuma Vihari has questioned the Indian team's selection strategy under head coach Gautam Gambhir following India's T20I series defeat to England. The criticism comes after India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, suffered back-to-back bilateral T20I series losses to England and Ireland under new captain Shreyas Iyer. Vihari expressed concern over the team's inconsistent selections, claiming frequent changes to the playing XI have created uncertainty within the squad.
India's opening combination remained unsettled throughout the recent series. Sanju Samson opened in the two T20Is against Ireland and the first match against England but managed only modest scores before being replaced by young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager was then given three opportunities but failed to register a significant score, after which Samson was recalled for the fifth T20I, a match India also lost. The constant changes have drawn criticism from former players, who believe the team management has lacked consistency in its approach.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Vihari alleged that Gambhir had shown preference towards certain players despite their recent performances. He questioned the continued inclusion of Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar, arguing that neither had made enough impact to justify their regular selection. Vihari also raised concerns over the inclusion of other players, suggesting that several members of the squad had not delivered performances warranting extended opportunities.
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The former India batter also questioned the handling of the bowling unit, particularly the selection of spinners. He wondered why Ravi Bishnoi was included in the squad if he was not being utilised effectively and pointed to the team's struggles despite having options such as Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel. According to Vihari, the issue lies not only in the composition of the squad but also in the manner in which the playing XI has been rotated during the series.
Vihari argued that players require a longer run in the side to build confidence and perform consistently at the international level. Referring to the handling of Sooryavanshi and Samson, he said changing players after only a few matches creates insecurity within the team. He maintained that if the management had decided to invest in a young player, he should have been backed for at least five or six games before making a judgment on his suitability.
India's recent defeats have intensified scrutiny of the team's strategy ahead of future international assignments. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Gautam Gambhir and the team management have not publicly responded to Vihari's remarks, the debate over selection consistency and player management is likely to continue as India looks to regain momentum in the T20 format.
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