MI dressing room brought into picture as Kris Srikkanth dismantles Ajit Agarkar's reasoning behind Hardik Pandya's captaincy snub

Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth didn't go easy on chief selector Ajit Agarkar for the reasoning that he gave behind not giving Hardik Pandya the T20I captaincy. He said that they should've clearly stated that they were moving on from the all-rounder rather than giving the fitness reasons.

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was undone by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the team management after the team for the Sri Lanka tour was announced. After Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the T20Is, it was almost certain that Pandya would be named captain.

But it wasn't the case as BCCI and the team management gave the T20I leadership to Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya was the vice-captain of the team in the T20 World Cup 2024 and was seen as the future leader of the team. But him not getting the captaincy didn't go easy with many and it raised quite a few eyebrows.

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During the press conference, when asked about the same, chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that Hardik Pandya's injury history and workload management were major factors behind him not getting captaincy. He also mentioned that 'dressing room feedback' was taken into consideration to name Suryakumar as captain.

Kris Srikkanth, while highlighting Ajit Agarkar's comments, didn't agree with the selector's fitness remark on Hardik Pandya. He, however, admitted that Suryakumar Yadav has great abilities to lead the team. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

"I think they have gone from the feedback of the dressing room. It must have probably been from the IPL.. Fitness is something that I will not agree with. He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That's another issue. Mumbai Indians didn't qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well. So, fitness is something that I won't agree with.

"Feedback from the dressing room? I am not able to understand that. Yes, Suryakumar has the qualities to be captain. I agree with that. He could prove to be a very good captain. But the reasons for dropping Hardik Pandya as captain are beating around the bush in terms of the reasoning."

They could have said it straightforwardly 'We are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain - Kris Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth further stated that Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee could've said directly that they dropped Hardik Pandya as captain because they wanted to move forward. He recalled his time as a selector, saying that he used to give clear explanations for dropping and picking players. He added:

"Suryakumar is a fantastic person. I like him. So is Hardik. But the reasons that they are giving They could have said it in a straightforward manner: 'We are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain; we want to move forward. We are looking at Suryakumar as a long term'. Make it clear. Say it without fear."

"I have also been chairman. I have picked players, dropped players and faced a lot of criticism. I am not saying I was God, I have also made mistakes. But you have to give a good explanation. I am not convinced by the reasoning," he concluded.