Former India cricketer and 1983 World Cup-winning opener Kris Srikkanth has set his target on all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after India lost the third ODI to New Zealand in Indore on Sunday, January 18. He also felt sympathetic towards Virat Kohli, saying India depends too much on one player.

After being asked to bat first, Daryl Mitchell’s 137 and Glenn Phillips’s 106 led New Zealand to 337/8 in 50 overs. In response, Virat Kohli made a valiant 124, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana made fifties. But the remainder of the batters failed as India was bowled out for 296 and lost the game by 41 runs.

With this win, New Zealand also registered its maiden ODI series win in India.

Kris Srikkanth was disappointed with the ODI series loss, and he questioned Ravindra Jadeja’s spot on the Indian team and called for his axing.

Srikkanth wondered why Ravindra Jadeja is still playing for India in one-day internationals. Jadeja has been under fire, and rightfully so, after taking just one wicket in the last six matches—against South Africa and New Zealand—and scoring 99 runs in six innings.  

Srikkanth went all out against Jadeja, praising him for his previous contributions but simultaneously criticizing him for a streak of poor performances.

He also lauded Virat Kohli, who scored his 54th ODI century, scoring 124 runs, but the knock went in vain.

"Ravindra Jadeja was the silent killer in the 2023 World Cup. It is true that he doesn't seem to have the same enthusiasm he had during that tournament. But even Kuldeep Yadav is being taken to the cleaners. I feel pity for Virat Kohli. How many matches will he score in? If only Kohli had to score, how many matches can India win that way?" Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

He also praised the New Zealand bowlers, highlighting how well they performed in the absence of first-choice bowlers.

"India is depending on one person to win matches. In all fairness, New Zealand is not a great bowling side. But look at how well Jayden Lennox bowled—10 overs, 42 runs, and two crucial wickets. Foulkes was expensive but took wickets. Kyle Jamieson bowled a deadly delivery to dismiss Shubman Gill. Kristian Clarke is bowling well too. It's a third-string attack,” he added.

The two sides will now clash in a five-T20I series starting January 21.