Former India batter Hanuma Vihari has strongly criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team management following the Men in Blue’s disappointing 4-0 T20I series defeat to England. Vihari questioned the team’s selection strategy, accused the management of showing favouritism, and expressed concern over the constant changes to the playing XI, which he believes disrupted the team’s stability and confidence. India’s heavy defeat to England came on the back of a 2-0 series loss to Ireland, leaving the team without a single T20I series win on the tour.

The results also saw India surrender the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I rankings, triggering widespread criticism of the team’s leadership and selection approach. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hanuma Vihari claimed that certain players continued to receive opportunities despite failing to justify their places in the squad.

“Gautam Gambhir has certain favourite players and he wants to keep backing them. I don’t see the value some of these players are adding to the team. Shivam Dube is not bowling, his fielding hasn’t been impressive, and he hasn’t contributed enough with the bat either. Suryansh Shedge also failed to make an impact with both bat and ball. I also don’t understand why Washington Sundar continues to be in the team when his overall contributions over the years haven’t been significant,” Hanuka Vihari said.

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The former Andhra batter was equally critical of the management’s handling of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old replaced Sanju Samson during the England series but was dropped after just three matches before Samson returned for the final T20I. Vihari argued that young players require time and security to adapt to the international level, rather than being judged after only a handful of games.

“You gave Samson chances in Ireland, then brought in Sooryavanshi, only to drop him after three games. There is no security for players in this team. If someone is selected, they should be backed for at least five or six matches before making a judgment. That’s how confidence is built,” he said.

He also questioned the squad composition, particularly India’s spin-bowling resources, wondering why Ravi Bishnoi was included if the management continued to rely primarily on Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel.

Hanuma Vihari further criticised the frequent chopping and changing of the playing XI, comparing it with India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign earlier in the year, when the team largely retained a settled combination. According to him, excessive changes create insecurity in the dressing room and prevent players from performing freely.

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“There were too many changes throughout the series. We didn’t see this during the T20 World Cup. I feel sorry for Sanju Samson because he became the scapegoat, while Sooryavanshi was also discarded after just three matches. A successful team is built by giving players consistent opportunities, not by making them fear for their place after every game,” Hanuma Vihari concluded.

With India now preparing for the Zimbabwe T20I series, the spotlight remains firmly on Gautam Gambhir and the team management as they look to rebuild confidence after one of the country’s most disappointing T20I tours in recent years.