Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth questioned the team management despite a historic win in the second ODI against the West Indies at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday. Srikkanth questioned the team’s think-tank decision to have batting till number eight.
India played with both Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir in the opening ODI on Sunday. On Wednesday, Reddy was dropped, whereas Auqib Nabi Dar was included in the playing XI.
The current management has backed batting depth over specialist bowlers, which has surprised a lot of experts. Indian bowlers were not on the mark as they conceded 405-7 on the board after Gill decided to bowl first.
Srikkanth said there is no need to have a long batting line-up as India have top-order batters like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gill scored a stunning knock of 223 runs off just 133 balls whereas Rohit scored a fine knock of 101 runs off 75 balls in the second game.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “When you have a top three of Gill, Rohit and Virat, you don’t need batting at all after that. Why do you need batting till No.8 with this top 3? To chase down 400+, given the psychological pressure, is amazing, irrespective of the opponent. The way they paced the run-chase was extraordinary. The faster the West Indian bowlers bowled, the more they travelled against the Indian openers.”
“Rohit Sharma tore the West Indies apart straightaway in the first 10 overs. He was the one who started the onslaught when Gill was just watching. It was clear both of them wanted to score 10 runs every over. He is also making a statement by scoring a century every alternate game.”
Gill and Rohit added 255 runs off 158 balls to put India in front in the run chase of 406.
The 1983 World Cup-winning player said Gill is playing a different level of cricket and praised him for the match-winning knock.
“This is a different level of cricket that he’s (Gill) playing. It’s a T20 strike rate that he has scored 223 at. He just tears the bowling apart through the mid-on, mid-wicket, and square-leg range. If you bowl on middle and leg, he’s too strong on the leg side,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
“His sense of timing and control is amazing. Yet, he plays straight and on the off also. His shot-making range is fantastic, and he has so much time for his shots. It feels like he scores big every match. So many not-outs, and it feels like it’s been a long time since he got out.”
The third ODI between India and the West Indies will be played at New Chandigarh on Saturday.
