Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth doesn’t agree with chief selector Ajit Agarkar regarding his decision to snub Hardik Pandya from the T20I captaincy role. The former Indian pacer highlighted that they wanted someone who could be available for more often than not. 

As Pandya has been troubled by injuries in the past, the selectors decided to give the captaincy bridle to Suryakumar Yadav. Pandya had more captaincy experience than SKY but the selectors have backed the latter as T20I leader.

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “I think they have gone from the feedback of the dressing room. It must have probably been from the IPL. Fitness is something that I will not agree. He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That’s another issue. Mumbai Indians didn’t qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well. So, fitness is something that I won’t agree with.”

The 1983 World Cup-winning player added the selectors should have given the real reason behind dropping Hardik Pandya as the captain.

“Suryakumar is a fantastic person. I like him. So is Hardik. But the reasons that they are giving They could have said it in a straightforward manner ‘we are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain, we want to move forward. We are looking at Suryakumar as a long term’. Make it clear. Say it without fear.”

Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 in the T20I showpiece. Pandya also scalped 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.61.

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Pallekele on Saturday.