Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh slammed team management over their tactics in the opening ODI against Afghanistan. India registered a comprehensive seven-wicket win against the Afghans after they bundled out the visitors for 194 in 24.5 overs.

However, Ganesh was not impressed with the team think tank’s decision to take away the gloves from KL Rahul. Rahul has been keeping the wickets in ODIs in the last couple of years, but Ishan Kishan took the gloves in his place in the opening ODI against the tourists.

Ganesh expressed his surprise with India’s decision to change something that has been working fine for them in the last couple of years.

He wrote on X, “Snatching away the WK gloves from KL Rahul will only unsettle him. He had done a great job all these years behind the wkts; was spot on with the reviews. Why on earth would you change it now? especially with the WC just over a year. Can’t make sense of this.”

Meanwhile, Rahul scored a blistering knock of 39* runs off just 19 balls to add the finishing touches in the run-chase of 195. He smashed four fours and three maximums in his brisk knock.

On the other hand, Ishan Kishan, who batted at one drop in the absence of injured Virat Kohli, scored an attacking knock of 34 runs off 22 balls. Shubman Gill scored a match-winning knock of 84 runs off 66 balls with the help of 11 fours and two sixes and thus was awarded Player of the Match.

The second ODI between India and Afghanistan will be played at Lucknow on Wednesday.