Delhi: Former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth has raised questions on the selection of the Indian team for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan. He believes that after the recent poor performance, the selectors have avoided taking risks and have chosen an almost strong team. According to Srikanth, young players should have been given more opportunities in this series.

Decision taken after consecutive defeats?

India recently had to face 2-0 defeat in the T20 series against Ireland. After this, England also defeated India 4-0 in the five-match series. Srikanth says that after these results the pressure on the selectors increased and that is why not many experiments were done in the team against Afghanistan.

He said that it was a good opportunity for young players to try themselves at the international level against a team like Afghanistan. Instead the selectors relied on experienced and established players. Srikanth called it a decision taken out of fear.

Questions also raised regarding fitness

Srikanth also expressed concern over the match fitness of some players who returned to the team. He says that merely passing the fitness test at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru cannot be a proof of complete preparation for the international competition.

Giving the example of Harshit Rana, he said that his performance on the England tour made it clear how important match fitness is. According to him, players should prove their rhythm and fitness in competitive matches before selection.

Strong team against Afghanistan

The first T20 match between India and Afghanistan will be held on 13 September in New Delhi. After this, two more matches will also be played on the same ground on 15th and 17th September. Shreyas Iyer will captain the team, while Tilak Verma will be the vice-captain.

The Indian team is as follows: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dubey, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.