Krishnamachari Srikkanth slams India’s star batter after poor performances against England and Ireland

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Team India’s recent white-ball woes have plunged the side into a period of intense introspection, with former cricketers and pundits demanding accountability. Following an unprecedented slump in the shortest format, the management’s tactical choices and player forms are under the scanner. The pressure has mounted significantly after a string of batting collapses exposed structural vulnerabilities in a line-up otherwise renowned for its explosive depth.

As the team searches for answers, veteran voices are calling for immediate changes to halt the slide before upcoming global tournaments. The recent performances have shattered the aura of invincibility surrounding the squad, prompting severe backlash from the cricket fraternity.

The Men in Blue are currently enduring a brutal dip in form, having dropped four consecutive full T20Is across their tours of Ireland and England. While the bowling unit has lacked its usual bite, it is India’s batting department that has drawn the heaviest fire. The crisis reached its boiling point during the third T20I in Nottingham, where a catastrophic collapse saw the entire team bundled out for a mere 76 runs.

In the wake of this batting disaster, former India opener and ex-BCCI chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth did not hold back. Known for his blunt and passionate assessments, Srikkanth singled out India’s T20I vice-captain and star batter, Tilak Varma, for his underwhelming contributions during the twin tours.

“He’s already the vice-captain, and it looks like he’ll soon become the captain also. Tilak Varma might have himself said he doesn’t want to go out, seeing the pace and bounce. Tilak Varma is clueless,” Srikkanth stated on his YouTube channel.

Srikkanth expressed deep frustration over how technical flaws are being exploited so easily at the highest level. The legendary selector’s public critique underscores a growing worry that the team’s leadership group is failing to deliver when the stakes are highest.

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Srikkanth’s primary grievance lay in the manner of Varma’s dismissals, particularly his inability to counter high-quality pace. Labeling the young vice-captain as “clueless” on the field, the 1983 World Cup winner slammed Varma’s apparent vulnerability against short-pitched bowling. Opposing captains have consistently set targeted fields and employed hard-length tactics, a strategy that Varma has repeatedly failed to negotiate. Srikkanth noted that a vice-captain must lead by example, and looking helpless against a predictable blueprint sets a poor precedent for the rest of the dugout.

Given these persistent technical struggles, Srikkanth explicitly stated that Varma should be dropped from the side to rework his game in the domestic circuit. With competition for spots in the middle order reaching a fever pitch, India can ill afford a passenger in a crucial anchor role.

As the team management prepares for the upcoming fixtures, the spotlight remains firmly on whether they will heed Srikkanth’s warning or continue to back the struggling southpaw in hopes of a quick turnaround.

“You make Tilak Varma your main batter and vice-captain. Yet, you shield him against fast bowling? They are sending Axar Patel ahead of him. They are trying to shield Tilak Varma because they know he’s vulnerable against short-pitched bowling. I’ve been consistently saying he should be dropped. But they don’t drop him,” he added.

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