Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth has slammed the Indian management for the odd decision to promote Harshit Rana ahead of all-rounder Shivam Dube during the second T20I against Australia at the MCG.
India lost the second T20I against Australia after the first T20I was washed out due to rain. The Canberra T20 found Indian players capitalizing until rain washed out the day’s play. India suffered a humiliating collapse despite being the strongest among T20I batting sides.
They were 49/5 with all big names back in the hut, and opener Abhishek Sharma played a fine hand with a blistering 68-run knock despite India collapsing for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs.
Your daily dose of cricket!
“Is Harshit Rana such a big player?” – Kris Srikkanth slams India’s controversial management
India suffered due to a poor show with the bat and made a surprising change to the batting order. Harshit Rana, the Indian bowling all-rounder, was sent in ahead of Shivam Dube. Though the plan seemingly paid off as India could stabilize their innings with a partnership, former selector Kris Srikkanth doesn’t seem happy with the decisions.
“You are demoralising the Dube’s ability. And is Harshit Rana such a big player? He scored 35 but it was a scratchy knock. Only that one six was good other than a square cut. At 35 off 33, he ate up too many deliveries.”
“The problem is Abhishek Sharma missed out on the strike a lot because of Harshit Rana. So many times he took a single off the last ball of the over. In that partnership of 47 deliveries, Harshit Rana played 33 and only 14 for Abhishek Sharma,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.
“It was not an invaluable 35” – Srikkanth discredits Rana despite a fine knock at MCG
In a surprising move, the Indian management and Gautam Gambhir sent in Rana to bat at no. 7. He put on a splendid partnership alongside Abhishek Sharma, who opened the innings. Harshit Rana arrived at the crease in the 8th over of the game and played for nearly 8 overs.
In the 47-ball partnership, Harshit Rana alone faced 33 deliveries and often took singles off the final ball of the over, which affected Abhishek’s flow of runs. Had this been a specialist batter, the rotation of strike rate would have been better.
“Because of this, Abhishek Sharma did not get the strike and lost his flow also. So what’s the use? People can say he scored 35 and it was invaluable. It was not an invaluable 35. He was just there and hit that one six. He was just surviving and escaping otherwise. Ultimately it’s the captain’s call. Gambhir can only suggest. So not sure whose decision this was but it was a very odd decision,” Srikkanth added.
“In the end, they’ve made him like a nobody with this move,” said Srikkanth
Srikkanth believed that Shivam Dube would be demotivated by his sudden demotion to no. 8. The 32-year-old had played a very crucial knock during the Asia Cup final against Pakistan when he put on a partnership with Tilak Varma.
“It is unclear whether Dube is playing as a batter, bowler or fielder. In the end, they’ve made him like a nobody with this move. It’s not right because you are demoralising the player’s confidence. It’s not good for Dube and the Indian Cricket team. It looked like the Indian management thought Dube was the Impact Player in the IPL,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
He was sent in with less than five overs remaining in the innings as he walked into bat and was dismissed after just two deliveries. Dube got a thick edge of the first ball and was later dismissed for another edge in the very next ball.
“They kept waiting for Kuhnemann to send him to bat. Are you playing with the Impact Player rule? This is a T20I and not the IPL, where you wait for the spinner and send an Impact Player. It is bad thinking and bad planning. Shivam Dube should bat irrespective of the bowler or situation of the game. He is capable of playing. Is Shivam Dube such a bad player? It’s better off if he doesn’t even bat if it’s going to be at 8.”
ALSO READ: Sanju Samson’s T20I future in danger!! Ex-India star exposes Gautam Gambhir’s flawed tactics
