Srikkanth’s major apprehension was with the picks of Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana.
Srikkanth’s major apprehension was with the inclusions of Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Harshit Rana. Rinku is the team’s designated finisher since his breakthrough IPL season in 2023, while Dube and Rana ensured their selection through consistent performances in 2024. But all three looked out of touch in the recent 2025 edition.
Srikkanth was also critical of Test skipper Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I fold for the first time since July 2024. With his comeback, Gill replaces Axar Patel as deputy to Suryakumar Yadav in India’s T20I setup.
It is worth mentioning here that Gill was the vice-captain in the series against Sri Lanka last year, and Axar was only elevated to this role in the former’s absence.
“We might win the Asia Cup with this team, but there is no chance of winning the T20 World Cup with this bunch," Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda. “Are you going to take this team to the World Cup? Is this the preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is hardly six months away? They have gone backwards. Axar Patel has been axed from vice-captaincy. I don’t know how Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana have come in. IPL is considered the main criteria for selection, but the selectors seem to have considered performances before that."
According to Srikkanth, India lack a natural No. 5 batter. In the team’s last T20I outing, Dube batted at that spot and scored 30 off 13 with India racking up a gigantic 247/9 on the board.
“Who will bat at No. 5? Five has to be either Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma or Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya usually bats at No. 5, so now, Patel Axar cannot bat at six. I can’t understand how they picked Dube. Yashasvi Jaiswal have performed in international cricket and IPL as well. What does he do?" Srikkant remarked.
India will open their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.