'Now you are screwing up KL Rahul, just like Samson and Sooryavanshi' — Srikkanth slams team management
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth criticised the team management after KL Rahul was sent in at number six during a crucial chase at Lord's. "Now you are screwing up KL Rahul, just like Samson and Sooryavanshi", Srikkanth said.
Kris Srikkanth, a former skipper of the Indian team, took aim at selectors and the coaching staff for their handling of KL Rahul during the high-pressure pursuit at Lord's. Srikkanth described the decision to bat Rahul so low in the order as an injustice to the batter's proven abilities. He drew parallels with the treatment of Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in previous situations. The comments came amid a period in which India lost the ODI series and suffered other recent defeats.
Srikkanth's critique centred on the tactical choice to insert Rahul at number six in what the report describes as a crucial chase at Lord's. He argued that placing an established player deep in the lineup undermines the individual's role and preparation for key moments. That framing, he suggested, mirrors earlier cases involving Samson and Sooryavanshi where opportunities and roles appeared to have been mishandled. Srikkanth's remarks were explicitly aimed at the decision-making processes within the team management.
The former captain stressed that KL Rahul's track record warrants more consistent utilisation in match situations that demand experience and composure. By pointing to Rahul's deployment at Lord's, Srikkanth highlighted a perceived mismatch between talent and tactical usage. His comparison to Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was presented as evidence of a pattern rather than an isolated incident. Those examples, in Srikkanth's view, reflect broader concerns about player management.
Reports indicate that the sequence of results, including the loss of the ODI series, has intensified scrutiny of selection and in-game choices. Srikkanth connected the strategic calls at the crease to the team's recent run of defeats, implying that such decisions have tangible consequences on outcomes. His public rebuke adds to the chorus of voices questioning how players are being handled by the management.
Srikkanth's intervention may increase pressure on the management to clarify selection rationale and batting roles. The criticism underscores tensions between experienced observers and those responsible for tactics on the field, particularly after the set of recent losses. How the team addresses these concerns could be influential for future match plans and player deployment.
