Ex-India cricketer exposes ODI mismanagement under Gambhir: 'Would’ve made a lot more sense...'

Former India opener Aakash Chopra slammed the current team management as well as selection committee for their decisions over the past one month after the squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand was unveiled on Saturday.

The 15-man Indian squad had Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer returning as captain and vice-captain respectively after the two sat out of the three-match ODI series against South Africa due to injury, with KL Rahul having led the side against the Proteas in Gill’s absence.

While some of the decisions – including the call to rest Jasprit Bumrah – were considered routine, some others did raise eyebrows. Including and especially the decision to drop wicketkeeper-batter Ruturaj Gaikwad. Especially considering the fact that the Chennai Super Kings captain had slammed his maiden ODI century against South Africa earlier this month while playing at No 4 despite initially being included as a back-up opener.

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Chopra slams India’s recent decisions over ODI No 4 spot

Cricketer-turned-commentator Chopra, for one, argued that if Gaikwad was meant to be axed after Gill and Iyer’s return from injury, then the Gautam Gambhir-led management might as well have played Rishabh Pant at No 4 against South Africa. The 28-year-old, after all, has been retained despite having not played white-ball cricket for the Men in Blue since the tour of Sri Lanka last year.

“Ruturaj misses out because Iyer is back. So does Tilak because Gill is back. And that begs a question—why didn’t they play Pant at 4 when the opportunity presented itself vs SA? Since you’re continuing with him as a back-up keeper, it would’ve made a lot more sense to play him in Iyer’s absence,” Chopra wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

Also Read | 'Selection committee keeps surprising': Gaikwad's absence from India's squad for NZ ODIs raises eyebrows

The former Delhi and Rajasthan cricketer also questioned the team’s decision to continue including Nitish Kumar Reddy in the ODI team despite the Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder having been ignored for the South Africa games, even after Hardik Pandya was ruled out due to fitness issues.

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“Also, if NKR is indispensable…why doesn’t he get a game? Even when India’s fielding 3 pacers?? Will he get a game now?? With four pacers? How can you get future-ready (read for Pandya’s absence) when he’s always warming the bench?” Chopra added.

The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand gets underway in Vadodara on 11 January, with Rajkot (14 January) and Indore (18 January) hosting the second and third matches.

That will be followed by a five-match T20I series (21 to 31 January) which will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Men in Blue as well as the Black Caps for  next month’s T20 World Cup.