"Unreal politics and favoritism" - Gautam Gambhir blasted as India pick Riyan Parag over Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson in 1st T20I

The three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka got underway on Saturday (July 27) in Pallekele. The hosts won the toss and opted to bowl first against the reigning world champions.

The match marks the beginning of a new era for both teams. Both India and Sri Lanka have appointed new captains in T20I and they will be starting their tenure with the ongoing series. Suryakumar Yadav replaced Rohit Sharma as India's new T20I captain after the latter announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game.

On the other hand, Charith Asalanka has been named as the new Sri Lanka T20I captain. Earlier this month, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down from the post following Sri Lanka's disastrous campaign at the T20 World Cup. The Islanders failed to advance ahead of the group stage in the competition.

"We are going to bowl first. It looks like a pretty good pitch and we want to see how it goes. We are going with 6-5 (batters-bowlers) combination. I want to give every player a specific roles and that's why we are going with 5 bowlers. You can expect more wins and more consistency," said Asalanka after winning the toss.

No place for Shivam Dube:

Talking about the India Playing XI, the new team management has sprung a big surprise in the team combination. There was no place for allrounder Shivam Dube and star batter Sanju Samson in the India Playing XI for the series opener. The allrounder Dube had played in all the eight games that India played at the T20 World Cup last month while Samson was part of the 15.

And even though he played a number of handy knocks during the competition, it looks like he will have to do more to win the trust of the new team management. Instead of playing the Mumbai allrounder, the Indian team has decided to back Riyan Parag as the youngster got another chance to impress in international cricket.

Here are some of the reactions to Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson not getting a spot in India's Playing XI.

No Sanju Samson
No Shivam Dube
No Washington Sundar (Who Is Also Batting Well These Days)

But What, Gautam Gambhir Included Riyan Parag In The Playing 11 Before All These Players.

Unreal Politics And Favouritism 🤡 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->B<!---->f<!---->H<!---->C<!---->H<!---->h<!---->v<!---->p<!---->y

— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Sanju made a fifty in the last T20, Pant scored a duck but still Pant plays and Sanju Samson sits out. 24 ball 22 vs Zim kept Riyan Parag in the team and 50 vs Zim made Sanju lose his place.. Wonderful #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/6cAW3HN0oi

— 🇮🇳 ᵇʳᵘᵗᵘ (@Brutu24) July 27, 2024

Sanju Samson didn't get a place in the playing XI but Riyan Parag got it. Hmm p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->d<!---->E<!---->U<!---->v<!---->d<!---->5<!---->W<!---->p<!---->X<!---->9

— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

At this point, I agree that there is some big politics running behind Sanju Samson. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->7<!---->r<!---->X<!---->2<!---->R<!---->1<!---->t<!---->8<!---->3<!---->Z

— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessRohit) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Rishabh Pant in his entire World Cup : 0 Half Centuries

Sanju Samson in last 2 games : 1 Half Century

It’s sad how favouritism and professional bootlicking with a pinch of sympathy can ruin someone’s career p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->5<!---->k<!---->H<!---->B<!---->U<!---->g<!---->q<!---->G<!---->7<!---->4

— Chinmay Shah (@chinmayshah28) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Rishabh Pant starts above Sanju Samson yet again🤯 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->T<!---->X<!---->4<!---->U<!---->S<!---->p<!---->Q<!---->K<!---->4<!---->6

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Riyan Parag plays over Shivam Dube in middle order 🤯 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->y<!---->5<!---->W<!---->9<!---->E<!---->U<!---->i<!---->0<!---->8<!---->T

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Choosing Riyan Parag instead of Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube 😭

Gambhir's First Assignment 🤝🤡 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->h<!---->F<!---->m<!---->l<!---->K<!---->n<!---->Z<!---->Y<!---->7<!---->l

— Nicky (@iemnic) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Other than father's approach can anyone give me 1 reason why Riyan Parag is given opportunity before Shivam Dube or Sanju Samson?🤔
Last time I thought one got opportunity bcz of his father was Stuart Binny. 😒
Gambhir kehta kya tha aur ab kya rha h.#<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->s<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Abhishek Singh (@Shiv3627) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Gautam Gambhir has thrown Jadeja and Ruturaj out of the squad and benched Shivam Dube who won us the WT20 in the final and still people feel he doesn't have any agendas.

— 😎Mukesh 😎 (@itzMukeshVj) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->7<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Playing XIs:

India:

Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka