Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Subramaniam Badrinath has questioned Gautam Gambhir’s continued preference for all-rounders, arguing that the India head coach’s push for multi-skilled players has resulted in selections being made despite fitness concerns. Badrinath believes the approach is yet to produce a proven all-rounder capable of filling the void left by Hardik Pandya.
India’s original 15-member squad for the Afghanistan T20I series featured Harshit 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 questioned Gambhir’s thinking behind repeatedly backing the trio.
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“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.
“Gautam Gambhir seems hell-bent on creating all-rounders and multidimensional cricketers. Because of that desperation, these three are constantly getting picked even when they are dealing with injury issues,” he added.
Badrinath argued that India’s search for the next Hardik has not yet produced a player who can consistently contribute with both bat and ball. “But they are not able to create the next proper all-rounder. There is no one after Hardik Pandya who is a proven all-rounder,” he said.
“But they are desperately trying to create more. This desperation is the reason they are getting picked even though they don’t clear the fitness parameters,” Badrinath added.
His comments have gained another layer of relevance after Rana was ruled out of both upcoming assignments following a fresh rectus femoris strain suffered during a match simulation on September 7. Yash Thakur has since been named as his replacement, while Bumrah, Sundar and Reddy have all been cleared to play.
GAMBHIR’S QUEST FOR MORE OPTIONS
Gambhir’s selection philosophy has increasingly focused on building teams with multiple bowling options while extending the batting order. That has meant giving greater importance to players who can contribute in both departments, with specialist match-winners such as Kuldeep Yadav occasionally finding themselves outside the XI.
The approach has also seen Washington used in flexible batting positions while Nitish has been fast-tracked as a pace-bowling all-rounder. Gambhir has repeatedly spoken about wanting seven or eight bowling options, making multi-skilled players central to his preferred team balance.
The Afghanistan squad reflects that thinking, with Nitish, Washington, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel all offering different degrees of batting and bowling utility. With Rana now out, however, one of the players at the centre of Badrinath’s criticism has been replaced by a specialist fast bowler in Yash Thakur.
INDIA’S AFGHANISTAN, ASIAN GAMES PLANS
India will begin their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi on September 13, followed by matches on September 15 and 17. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain, while Bumrah’s return provides a major boost to the bowling attack.
The same core will then move towards the Asian Games in Japan, where India are the defending champions. The men’s cricket campaign begins with the quarter-finals on September 28, with the semi-finals scheduled for October 1 and the final on October 3.
India’s updated squad for Afghanistan T20Is: Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson [WK], Ishan Kishan [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur
India squad for the 2026 Asian Games: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
