Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth criticised India’s batting show in the second Test match against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. On a batting-friendly pitch, India was bundled out for 201 runs after conceding 489 runs on the board.
Furthermore, the hosts are struggling at 27-2 at the end of day four after South Africa have set up a huge target of 549 runs. Moreover, India could not chase down 124 runs in the second innings of the opening Test match at Kolkata. Indian batters have got off to starts, but none of them have been able to get a big score.
Only Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored a solitary fifty for the hosts in the ongoing two-match Test series against South Africa.
“I don’t understand what is happening. Kuldeep told the wicket was like a road. You are losing wickets to Harmer, losing wickets to bouncers. It is not a deadly wicket but you are getting out to bouncers. You don’t have answers to basic short bowling. What kind of wicket should you be given then? 201 all out? I don’t understand the logic with the batting order too. Sundar played as a batter in one Test and now you send him down. One side you say we can field three teams, one side you say transition, one side I don’t understand the selection policy,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, South African all-rounder Marco Jansen scored a fine knock of 93 runs and Srikkanth shared his surprise that Indian fast bowlers didn’t try to bowl short deliveries against the lanky batter.
“I am very surprised. You have so many coaches, assistant coaches, analysts and all that. You did not bowl a short ball to Jansen? Did anyone try a bouncer to him? I did not understand that. He made the bowling look ordinary. How did they score 489? On turning wickets you can’t bat. On this road you can’t pick wickets. What kind of pitch should be given to you then?” he added.
The former Indian captain slammed the Indian team for losing to the South African team, which is without their gun fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.
“How can you lose to a side like this? There is no Rabada, there are no main bowlers. Only Jansen is there. The problem is wrong selection policies and approach from the team management. Axar has been consistent. Why is he not there in the team? Was he unfit for this Test match? Every other person is playing now, trial and error, all that,” he said.
Srikkanth questioned head coach Gautam Gambhir and said the team needs better planning.
“Gautam can tell whatever he wants really. I don’t care. I have been a former captain and a former chairman, I know what I am talking. I am not talking just through my hat. You can’t do this. You need a consistent plan.”
India were 27-2 at stumps on day four and will look to save the Guwahati test on Wednesday.
