Srikkanth urges chief selector Chetan Sharma to pick right squad for T20 WC 2022

1983-World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has urged his former India teammate and the current chief selector, Chetan Sharma, to select the ‘right’ team for this year’s T20 World Cup down under. At the same time, Srikkanth has also made it clear to Sharma that the latter is always free to call him anytime in case a piece of advice is needed.

With the T20 World Cup just under three months away, India are yet to finalize their squad for the showpiece event due to cut-throat competition among the players in each series with the auditions to feature in the Men in Blue’s 15-member World Cup squad still wide open. Even the emerging players have gone on to showcase impressive performances which have made things more difficult for the selectors.

This trial and error methodology that they are doing is absolutely fine: Krishnamachari Srikkanth

“If they pick the right combination then Chetan Sharma, who has played a lot of cricket with us,…ee Chetu (Chetan) aab correct team select karna. Advice chaiye toh mereko phone kardo, Ravi (Shastri) ko call kardo, humdono aacha guidance denge aapko” (Hey Chetam, select the correct team this time. If you need any advice, call me, call Ravi. Both of us can give you good guidance)”, said Srikkanth while speaking on air during Fan Code’s broadcast for the first T20I between India and West Indies.

“This trial and error methodology that they are doing is absolutely fine, what the selectors are doing is fine. But from the Asia Cup, they have to do it,” he added.

The selectors are running out of time to sort out their final squad for the marquee tournament in Australia, starting October 16. They still have four T20Is against the West Indies and the Asia Cup next month after which Australia and South Africa are scheduled to visit India for a bilateral T20I series in September-October.

More importantly, the Asia Cup 2022 is likely to mark the return of batting megastar Virat Kohli and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to India’s playing XI, and things are only expected to heat up from thereon.