Keen on creating all-rounders: Ex-India star questions Gambhir’s strategy

Former India and Chennai Super Kings batsman Subramaniam Badrinath has questioned Gautam Gambhir’s continued preference for all-rounders, claiming that the Indian head coach’s push for multi-skilled players has led to selections being made despite fitness concerns. Badrinath believes this approach is yet to produce a proven all-round machine capable of filling the void left by Hardik Pandya.

India’s original 15-man squad for the Afghanistan T20I series featured Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, with all three initially subject to background checks. On his YouTube channel Cric it with Badri, Badrinath questioned Gambhir’s thinking behind the trio’s repeated support.

“All three fall under the category of all-rounders. In this one, Sundar and Nitish are definite all-rounders. But with Harshit Rana, he is trying very hard to make him an all-rounder,” said Badrinath.

“Gautam Gambhir seems hell-bent on producing all-rounders and multi-dimensional cricketers. It is because of this desperation that these three keep getting picked even as they deal with injury issues,” he added.

Badrinath argued that India’s search for the next Hardik has yet to yield a player who can contribute consistently with both bat and ball. “But they are unable to produce another proper all-rounder. After Hardik Pandya, there is no one who is a proven all-rounder,” he said.

“But they are desperate to create more. This desperation is the reason why they are selected even if they don’t have clear fitness parameters,” Badrinath added.

His comments took on another level of relevance after Rana was ruled out of both the upcoming assignments following a fresh rectus femoris strain suffered during a simulated match on September 7. Yash Thakur has since been named as his replacement, while Bumrah, Sundar and Reddy have all been cleared to play.

GAMBHIR’S QUEST FOR MORE OPTIONS

Gambhir’s selection philosophy has increasingly focused on building teams with multiple bowling options while expanding the batting order. This has meant putting more emphasis on players who can contribute in both departments, with specialist match-winners like Kuldeep Yadav occasionally finding themselves out of the XI.

This approach also saw Washington use flexible batting positions, while Nitish was fast tracked as a bowling all-rounder. Gambhir has repeatedly spoken of wanting seven or eight bowling options, making multi-skilled players central to his preferred team balance.

Afghanistan’s squad reflects this mindset, with Nitish, Washington, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel offering varying degrees of batting and bowling utility. However, with Rana out, one of the players at the center of Badrinath’s criticism has been replaced by a specialist fast bowler in Yash Thakur.

INDIAN AFGHANISTAN, ASIAN GAMES PLANS

India will begin their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi on September 13, followed by matches on September 15 and 17. Shreyas Iyer will captain the side, Tilak Varma will be vice-captain while the return of Bumrah provides a big boost to the bowling attack.

The same core will then move towards the Asian Games in Japan where India are the defending champions. The men’s cricket campaign begins with the quarter-finals on September 28, the semi-finals on October 1 and the final on October 3.

Updated India Squad for Afghanistan T20Is: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Thash.. Jasprit Bush

India Squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, V.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

12 Sep 2026 10:51 IST