Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has questioned Axar Patel’s absence from the ODI squad against South Africa. Patel has not played consistently for India and thus Srikkanth reckons the selectors should explain the reason behind his exclusion. Patel played in the first Test match against the Proteas at Eden Gardens, but was dropped from the second game at Guwahati.
The all-rounder has done a decent job for India in the white-ball and also played a crucial knock in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa.
Patel was part of the ODI squad for the series against Australia but has been dropped from South Africa series despite decent performances.
“What has Axar done to not be in the side? He is a pure batter compared to Nitish Kumar Reddy. Nitish is a replacement for Hardik? I don’t know why Axar is not there. He has done very well throughout. He can be a better batter than many others in the team. You can play him even as a batter. I don’t understand three wicketkeepers in the squad either,” he said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
The 1983 World Cup winning player questioned all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s place in the ODI team.
“You can play Axar as a batter. Varun is a game-changer. What has Nitish done even in ODIs? You are going with three medium pacers. You will play two in the XI and three spinners then. You say Nitish will come at eight and bowl four overs? This adjustment does not work in cricket.”
After Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were ruled out of the series due to their respective injuries, Srikkanth said it was the right call to appoint KL Rahul as ODI captain against the Proteas.
“I think it is the right call to give KL captaincy. He deserves it based on sheer performance. I don’t think they would have thought about Rohit and it is not right for him to take it also. Why should he take it? You will be dishonoring Rohit if you go back to him now,” he said.
The first ODI between India and South Africa will be played at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, on Sunday.
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