Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has questioned Tilak Varma’s selection after the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. Srikkanth reckons the selectors and team management should back Rajat Patidar ahead of Tilak Varma.
While batting at number five, Varma scored 11 runs off nine deliveries in the third T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday. However, he had scored a blistering knock of 60 runs off just 29 balls on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Patidar scored 501 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2026 at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69 and thus played a key role in RCB’s success.
“Once again, Tilak ate nine balls. He can’t play fast for too long. Where is the consistency? Tell me? What did he do in England? There will be one knock here and there. He is nothing compared to Rajat Patidar. If you want a real solid T20 knock, go to Patidar, give him a chance. Everyone is getting chances like Yash Thakur, give him a chance too,” Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel.
On the other hand, India was sloppy in the field, dropping easy catches. Mayank Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi all dropped catches on Sunday.
Overall, India dropped 10 catches in the three-match series and caught 18. Thus, the visitors had a catching efficiency of 64.2%. Srikkanth slammed India for their poor fielding against the hosts.
He added, “They dropped so many catches, easy catches. All these top cricketers are dropping catches. How many catches were dropped? Did you look at the Indian fielding?”
The 1983 World Cup-winning player urged ICC to scrap bilaterals and promote a tri-nation series.
“Now, instead of playing Afghanistan again in T20Is, they could have made it a tri-nation series between India, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan. Bilaterals must be scrapped and made into a tri-nation series; then the interest will also be there. I hope the ICC listens to us,” he said.
India will next take on Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series.
