Out-of-favor India batter Hanuma Vihari has criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir over Team India's selection policy following the team's 4-0 T20I series defeat to England. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Vihari said that Gambhir continues to back certain players regardless of their performances on the field.
The comments came after the Indian cricket team's disappointing white-ball tour under captain Shreyas Iyer. The Men in Blue won only one of the last seven matches, losing the T20I series 2-0 to Ireland before suffering a 4-0 defeat against England, raising fresh questions over team selection and overall performances.
I Don't See Any Value - Hanuma Vihari Questions Gautam Gambhir's Selections
Hanuma Vihari claimed that Gautam Gambhir, who has been under fire, continues to back a few favorite players. He questioned the selections of Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, and Washington Sundar, saying their performances have not justified their places in the T20I squad.
"Gautam Gambhir has certain favorite players and he wants to take them and play them. I don't see any value in these players added to the side. I don't understand what some players are doing in the team."
"Dube does not bowl, cannot field, and has not shown that form in batting either. Shedge was also not impressive in bowling or batting. I have no idea why Washington Sundar is still continuing in the team. If you look at his contributions over the years, it has not been that great."
Dube scored 85 runs in five matches against England and bowled only three overs, taking two wickets. Shedge scored seven runs and conceded 39 runs in three wicketless overs in his only appearance, while Washington managed five runs and bowled just one over, conceding 19 runs.
There Is No Security Anywhere in the Team - Hanuma Vihari Criticizes Frequent Changes
Hanuma Vihari also blamed India's poor series on constant changes to the squad and playing XI. He said players need a longer run to prove themselves and pointed to the handling of Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as examples of inconsistent selection.
"Spinners were the problem, whether Varun Chakaravarthy or Axar Patel. Why was Ravi Bishnoi taken on this tour? The problem is in the squad selection and the playing XI selection. You gave Samson opportunities in Ireland and then played Suryavanshi."
"You dropped him also after three games. There is no security anywhere in the team. If you do not perform, you will be kicked out. You should give it a long run. If you were fixed on playing Suryavanshi, at least give him five or six games and then decide whether he is good enough or not."
Sanju Samson played the opening T20I before making way for Sooryavanshi, who featured in the next three matches. Samson returned for the fifth T20I after the teenager was left out. Such repeated changes make it difficult for players to settle and perform consistently.
Hanuma Vihari: The Hero of India's Historic Sydney Test Draw
Hanuma Vihari played one of the bravest innings in Indian Test history during the 2021 Sydney Test against Australia. Chasing a target of 407 on the final day, he battled a serious right hamstring injury to help India secure a memorable draw alongside Ravichandran Ashwin.
Vihari suffered the injury soon after arriving at the crease, leaving him unable to run quick singles. Despite the pain, he remained unbeaten on 23 off 161 balls and shared an unbroken 62-run partnership with Ashwin for the sixth wicket as India finished on 334/5.
Hanuma Vihari adopted a defensive approach to survive Australia's relentless bowling attack. Remarkably, he scored only six runs from his first 100 deliveries, the second-lowest score by any batter after facing 100 balls in Test cricket, while helping India save the match and keep the series level.
