Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth questioned the selectors for giving a maiden ODI call-up to Ayush Badoni for the remaining two ODIs against New Zealand. Badoni was named as the replacement after Washington Sundar was ruled out with a side strain.

Srikkanth took a subtle dig at head coach Gautam Gambhir and highlighted that the former Indian opener was LSG’s mentor and thus played a hand in Badoni’s selection. Badoni has played 27 List A games in which he has scored 693 runs, including a century and 5 fifties, and has picked up 18 wickets.

“What kind of door is this? Bring two or three trucks, take them and go through and break the door. Really, I don’t understand what it is. Out of Axar, Badoni, Nitish Reddy, and Gaikwad, which two must really be in the team? Badoni played at LSG and he (Gambhir) was the mentor there. I don’t see any other reason. What else can it be? On what basis? You should have some sense in selection,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.

Srikkanth questioned if Badoni can hit sixes while batting at number six and believes Axar Patel should have been preferred ahead of him

“Ayush Badoni with this performance, no chance. What is his track record in the IPL also? IPL and one-day cricket is different. He has not done anything great. He is not a guy who can take the match away from you. Can he come at number six and hit sixes also? I don’t understand. What rubbish is this? How is he considered a bowling all-rounder? If an all-rounder is missing why not bring in Axar Patel? He is a genuine all-rounder in all formats,” he said.

The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Rajkot on Wednesday.