Former Indian batter Subramaniam Badrinath cheekily said that head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preferred players are back in the Team India squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan. While Badrinath did not share the names, the likes of Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah are back in the
lineup after missing time with injury as well.

Badrinath said on his YouTube channel, “On first look, the coach’s favorites are back. Washington Sundar is getting tremendous backing in Indian cricket. He needs to really make use of it. And somehow I don’t rate Nitish Kumar Reddy so high. That’s because of his bowling. I still feel he’s a batter and not someone I rate with the ball.”

READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli

Subramaniam Badrinath also said that ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s return is the biggest positive for Team India ahead of the Afghanistan series. The veteran pace bowler missed Team India’s recent Test series in Sri Lanka due to a left knee injury
sustained during the ODI series in England in July as well.

“Bumrah’s return is a huge positive. It could also have been that Bumrah told the management that he wanted to play these three matches. Then they have to select him. We don’t know that. Bumrah might have spoken to Gambhir or the selection committee and said he wants to play because he hasn’t played cricket for long. So it could have been Bumrah’s option,” said Badrinath. “I also like Sanju Samson’s selection. They’ve been playing around too much with his place. So it’s good to see him back.”