Former Indian cricketer S Srikkanth has blasted the BCCI over the interpretation it provided behind appointing Suryakumar Yadav as India’s skipper in T20Is, overlooking allrounder Hardik Pandya. Srikkanth expressed his disappointment over the explanation given by chief selector Ajit Agarkar behind not preferring Pandya for India’s T20I captaincy. Hardik Pandya was a potential candidate to lead India’s T20I team, having already done so in the past, however, the management decided against this, opting instead for Yadav to take on the role. 

"I think they have gone from the feedback of the dressing room. It must have probably been from the IPL. Fitness is something that I will not agree. He played the entire IPL. He also bowled. Yes, he might not have done well (in the IPL). That's another issue. Mumbai Indians didn't qualify. At the World Cup, he was the vice-captain and he played well. So, fitness is something that I won't agree with," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Recently, during the press conference Agarkar had said that with Pandya fitness remained the overriding concern for the management and they needed someone to be available consistently. 

"Feedback from the dressing room? I am not able to understand that. Yes, Suryakumar has the qualities to be captain. I agree to that. He could prove to be a very good captain. But the reasons for dropping Hardik Pandya as captain are beating around the bush in terms of the reasoning."

Srikkanth lauded Suryakumar Yadav, but was not happy with the reasoning provided by the management. 

"Suryakumar is a fantastic person. I like him. So is Hardik. But the reasons that they are giving, they could have said it in a straightforward manner 'we are dropping Hardik Pandya as captain, we want to move forward. We are looking at Suryakumar as a long term'. Make it clear. Say it without fear," he noted.

"I have also been chairman. I have picked players, dropped players and faced a lot of criticism. I am not saying I was God, I have also made mistakes. But you have to give a good explanation. I am not convinced by the reasoning," he said.