Former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath has launched a scathing attack on the national selectors, questioning the omission of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the Sri Lanka series and Rinku Singh’s exclusion from the ODI leg. Despite their impressive performances against Zimbabwe earlier this month, both players were overlooked for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.
Badrinath expressed his disbelief in a video shared on social media, suggesting that exceptional performances alone may not be enough to secure a spot in the Indian team. He implied that having connections with Bollywood actresses, sporting tattoos, and a strong media presence may be necessary for consistent selection.
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“It seems like you need a bad guy image, relationships with Bollywood actresses, a good media manager, and body tattoos to be selected for the Indian team,” Badrinath said in the video.
Gaikwad had scored 7, 77, and 49 in three innings against Zimbabwe, while Rinku played crucial cameos in the T20Is. Their omissions have raised eyebrows, and Badrinath’s comments have sparked a debate about the selection process.
The 15-member squads for the Sri Lanka series were announced on Thursday, with Gaikwad missing out on both T20I and ODI selection, while Rinku was retained for the T20Is. Badrinath’s criticism has added fuel to the fire, highlighting the need for transparency and merit-based selection in Indian cricket.
