Kris Srikkanth Critiques India's Squad Selection for Afghanistan Series

Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has expressed his discontent with the selection of the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan. He believes the selectors have made a fearful choice by opting for a full-strength squad instead of utilizing this opportunity to test younger talent. With recent defeats against Ireland and England, Srikkanth argues that the team should have taken risks. The series is set to begin on September 13, and he also raised concerns about the players' match fitness, emphasizing the need for competitive performance over mere fitness tests. Read on for more insights into his critique.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 4, 2026, 21:56 IST

Srikkanth Critiques 'Fearful' Selection

Kris Srikkanth, a former cricketer for India, has voiced his concerns regarding the selection of the Indian team for the upcoming series against Afghanistan. He believes that the selectors have opted for a full-strength lineup following disappointing defeats in Ireland and England. Srikkanth argues that this series against Afghanistan was an excellent chance to experiment with younger players, yet the team chosen mirrors that of the one which faced England, a decision he perceives as one driven by fear and urgency.

India recently faced a 2-0 defeat against Ireland, followed by a 4-0 loss to England in July. The Afghanistan series is set to commence on September 13, with the second T20I on September 15 and the third on September 17, all taking place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.

"After the losses in Ireland and England, the selectors have chosen not to take risks and have assembled a full-strength squad for Afghanistan. They are going all out, but I believe this is a misstep. It is against teams like Afghanistan that you should be testing new talent. Instead, they have opted for a full-strength team out of fear," Srikkanth expressed on his YouTube channel. He added, "This feels like a desperate move following the defeats in Ireland and England, yet the squad is nearly identical to the one selected for England."

India's T20I Squad Unveiled

The Men's Selection Committee has revealed a star-studded squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Regular captain Shreyas Iyer will lead the team, with Tilak Varma serving as his deputy. The lineup also includes pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, alongside Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan.

Bumrah's inclusion is contingent upon fitness clearance, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana.

Concerns Regarding Player Fitness

Srikkanth has also raised questions about the players' match fitness, emphasizing that passing fitness tests at the Bengaluru Centre of Excellence does not guarantee full readiness. He insists that players should demonstrate their fitness in actual competitive matches before being selected for the national team. "These four have not demonstrated match fitness. So on what grounds are they considered fit? Just because you pass a fitness test at the Bengaluru CoE, does that mean you are fit? Look at what happened to Harshit Rana in England. Match fitness is crucial," Srikkanth stated.