"Fitness is something that I will not agree"- K Srikkanth baffled by Ajit Agarkar's reasoning for moving on from Hardik Pandya the captain
Former Indian opener K Srikkanth strongly disagreed with the explanation given by chief selector Ajit Agarkar on the appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as their new T20I captain, not Hardik Pandya. Suryakumar will lead the Men in Blue for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Addressing the reporters in Mumbai, Ajit Agarkar explained the decision was a result of a feedback from the dressing room about Suryakumar's leadership traits. He also felt that having Hardik as a player would help them manage his workload as they wanted the captain to play all the games.
However, speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, K Srikkanth explained why he disagreed with the fitness angle of Ajit Agarkar's explanation. He said:
"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."
Srikkanth also felt that the explanation about the feedback from the dressing room was vague and claimed that the selectors were 'beating around the bush' when asked about reasons for moving on from Hardik Pandya.
Selectors would be straightforward about dropping Hardik Pandya as captain: K Srikkanth
K Srikkanth opined that if the selectors were disappointed with Hardik Pandya's returns as a captain, they should say it in a straightforward manner rather than giving fitness as a reason. On this, he stated:
"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."
Srikkanth shed light on how he too made mistakes when he was a chief selector and wanted Agarkar and other selectors to be upfront about their decisions.