Former India captain and ex-chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has voiced his concerns regarding the selection dynamics of the Indian national team, highlighting how exceptional talent is sometimes sidelined due to a lack of available slots and a crowded roster of players.

The 'Slot' Struggle for Ishan Kishan

Srikkanth has been a vocal supporter of Ishan Kishan, praising the wicketkeeper-batter's resurgence after a period of absence from the national side. Despite Kishan's impressive return to the T20I squad and a stunning century in ODIs against Afghanistan, Srikkanth believes the player's potential in the longest format remains untapped.

"I am a great fan of Ishan Kishan. From nowhere he has made a comeback and he's just doing brilliantly," Srikkanth told PTI. "The sheer quality of his stroke play, timing, power and effortless game. Ishan is an all-format player. Actually, he can play Test cricket too. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a slot."

The former selector also lauded the BCCI's decision to mandate Kishan's participation in domestic cricket after he lost his central contract in 2024. Srikkanth noted that returning to the grind, including playing in the Buchi Babu Trophy and captaining Jharkhand to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win, ultimately benefited the player's development.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and the 'Merry-Go-Round' of Openers

Beyond Kishan, Srikkanth pointed to Yashasvi Jaiswal as another cricketer who deserves more opportunities across all formats. While Jaiswal has excelled in Test cricket—scoring centuries in major playing nations like England and Australia—Srikkanth feels he has been unfairly overlooked for shorter formats.

"I think he is an all format cricketer. But he is only utilized in Test cricket," Srikkanth remarked. He described the current state of the opening slot as a "merry-go-round," where players are frequently rotated, making it difficult for any one individual to maintain a consistent spot.

Concerns Over Continuity and the International Calendar

Srikkanth expressed worry over the lack of continuity in selections, suggesting that the relentless international calendar causes strong performances to be forgotten too quickly. "Unfortunately, what is happening is, some players get a chance and then sometimes they are forgotten also... too much of cricket being played. So, we forget what happened in the last series also," he added.

While praising the current chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, for doing a "brilliant job," Srikkanth urged the committee to make adjustments to ensure domestic performers get fair opportunities, particularly in Test cricket, which he describes as the "ultimate format for any cricketer."