'Where is he?' - K Srikkanth unhappy with Rahul Dravid for excluding Deepak Hooda in 1st WI T20I

Indian team enjoyed a great outing in the T20I series opener against hosts West Indies in the Brian Lara Stadium, completing an emphatic victory against the home side. But the Indian team management has come under scrutiny for their selection of Shreyas Iyer. Former Indian captain and former chairman of selection committee Krishnamachari Srikkanth was infuriated by Rahul Dravid’s decision to pick Iyer ahead of Deepak Hooda.

Srikkanth stated that in the shortest format, a team needs all-rounders, and Hooda must have been selected as he did well in the recent series against Ireland and England with the bat and also contributed with some handy overs with the ball.

“Where is Hooda? He did well in T20Is, He did well in ODIs as well. He is the guy who should be there. In T20 cricket, you need to understand that you need all-rounders. Batting all-rounders, bowling all-rounders, so more the all-rounders better for you,” said Srikkanth while speaking on the expert panel of FanCode,

‘We don’t need Rahul Dravid’s thought. We need yours. Right now. Give it now’: Srikkanth asks for Ojha’s opinion

Former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha, who was also a part of the panel contradicted with Srikkanth and Indian head coach Rahul Dravid on his selection of players. “Rahul bhai believes that if a player performed for you first then play him and back him. Then you go ahead with the other options,” Ojha said.

But the 1983 World Cup winner was having none of it and stopped the former spinner in his tracks and remarked, “Rahul Dravid ka soch humko nahi chaiye. Aapka soch chaiye. Abhi chaiye. Abhi do. (We don’t need Rahul Dravid’s thought. We need yours. Right now. Give it now.)”

Ojha finally gave in and backed the comment made by his senior and said smilingly, “Hooda toh hona chaiye. Obviously Hooda (Hooda should be there. Obviously Hooda)”