Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth has been India’s biggest critic in the past year and has constantly been slamming the Indian coach and management. However, after a successful ICC T20 World Cup, he has flipped sides in favour of the Indian management.

India were not only victorious in their campaign, but they also dominated the format with grace. India have formed a side with several staunch hitters from no. 1 to 7. India’s best find was wicket-keeper batters Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan.

However, the former Indian selector has reserved special praise for the left-handed batter Ishan Kishan, who was a surprise addition to the Indian XI. Kishan was India’s second-highest run-getter in the competition, playing his first T20 World Cup after being out of the team for two years.

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His knock was very crucial, it took the match away- Kris Srikkanth

Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth has highlighted the importance of Ishan Kishan in the Indian team and has praised the Team management for bringing in Ishan Kishan just at the right time, which helped India fight back despite Abhishek Sharma’s poor form in the premier tournament.

The left-handed batter amassed 317 runs at an average of 35.22 and a blistering strike rate of nearly 200 on all occasions. His knock of 54-runs in the final that came off just 25-balls helped them take the upper hand over New Zealand in the middle-overs after Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson gave the perfect start India needed.

“Agarkar and the team selection committee, well done, guys. They picked a superb team. Two years back, no one knew where Ishan Kishan was. But he performed domestically and came in and was the actual game changer.

“Apart from Abhishek and Sanju giving a rollicking start, his 54 ensured that they kept the momentum, and New Zealand were out of the game. His knock was very crucial; it took the match away,” he said on his YouTube channel.

Kris Srikkanth reserves special praise for the Indian Selector and Head coach

He then went on to hail the Indian team coach Gautam Gambhir for having provided players with the much-deserved clarity over their role. He was impressed with Dube expressing how his role was to go only for the big hits.

“Dube said his job was only six hitting, which is fantastic. He came in, did his job and went. It was fantastic how the role play was clear. That way, Gautam Gambhir did a brilliant job. Well done, Gautam, for encouraging Abhishek, Samson, and Dube to play their roles. Hats off to Gambhir,” said Kris Srikkanth.

He further highlighted how every Indian player, from openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, irrespective of their form, knew their role too well and performed to the best of their ability.

Kris Srikkanth lauds the Indian captain

He also credited Suryakumar Yadav for his captaincy moves. After much criticism, the Indian captain finally met the demands and expectations with his captaincy in the knockouts for India. Though he was dismissed for a duck, Kris Srikkanth feels he was a tactical genius in the final.

“At the right time, his captaincy moves were fantastic. Against England as well, he was keeping cool and was not flattered. Guys like Abhishek and Varun, who were going through a tough time, the captain backed them. With the captain and coach’s backing, a player gains confidence. Abhishek proved it. Even Varun got a crucial wicket,” he said.

Kris Srikkanth lastly concluded by bowing down to the ruthless and fearless batting of the Men in Blue, who scored three 250+ totals in their last four World Cup appearances in the tournament.

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