Discussions intensified due to sudden changes in the composition of the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games. Following an injury to Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy, the selection committee included Delhi Capitals all-rounder Vipraj Nigam in the squad.
Krishnamachari Shrikant, a former captain of India and winner of the 1983 World Cup, is extremely dissatisfied with this decision. He questioned the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar, arguing that experienced athletes who consistently perform in home matches and in the IPL are being ignored.
On his YouTube channel, Shrikant strongly challenged the intentions and mindset of the committee members. He specifically mentioned Kunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, questioning what they had done in life to be constantly overlooked.
Shrikant noted that some decisions are completely illogical. He emphasized that excluding players solely on the basis of age, as is happening with Bhuvni and Kunal, is unjustified. The selection of any athlete must be based exclusively on their abilities and performance.
Mocking the sudden inclusion of Vipraj in the squad, Shrikant asked how he could replace a spinner like Varun Chakravarthy. Although Vipraj's first season in the IPL (2025) was decent, in 2026 he was given the opportunity to play only in five matches, in which he did not show outstanding results.
Krishnamachari Shrikant demanded an explanation as to how Vipraj got into the team and on what basis he was selected. He expressed the opinion that a spot in the Indian national team is now being sold in a shop, and anyone can buy it.
The former veteran also raised questions regarding the selection of young players such as Ravi Bishnoi and Yash Thakur. He believes that young athletes should displace more experienced players by demonstrating their results. However, in his opinion, this is not happening yet, as some players who do not even have a permanent place in the IPL starting XI are going directly into the Indian national team.
Varun Chakravarthy was excluded from the remaining T20 series against Afghanistan due to injury and will consequently not participate in the Asian Games. The Indian team will begin its tournament at the 2026 Asian Games in the quarterfinals in Nagoya, Japan, on September 28.