Former Indian pacer, Venkatesh Prasad seems pretty unhappy with the Indian team management for deciding to drop Ishan Kishan from the playing XI for the opening game of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Kishan scored a double century in India’s last 50-over game against Bangladesh and was considered by many to be the ideal opening partner for the skipper, Rohit Sharma.

However, on the eve of the first match in Guwahati, Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shubman Gill will be opening the batting alongside him. The India captain said he isn’t going to take anything away from the southpaw and keep him in the mix.

Rohit Sharma explained, “I think it is fair that we give Gill a chance to have a fair run because in the last games, Gill got a lot of runs as well. I am not going to take anything from Ishan. He has been wonderful to us. He got a double hundred and I know what it takes to get a double hundred, it is a great achievement. But just to be honest and be fair to the guys who have done really well before that we need to give those guys enough chances as well.”

ALSO READ: Dasun Shanaka Considering India Series As Preparation For World Cup 2023

He further explained, “It is unfortunate that we won’t be able to play Ishan but looking at how things have panned out for us in the last 8-9 months, looking at how the ODIs have gone through for us, it is fair to give Gill that run and he has done extremely well in that position. We will definitely try out and keep Ishan in the mix and see how things pan out for us as we play a lot of games ahead.”

This was a call that didn’t sit right with Venkatesh Prasad, who took to Twitter to vent his frustration at the team management. The former fast bowler said it would have been fair to give a chance to the player who scored a double century in his previous game.

In Eng, Pant scored a hundred in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However based on T20 form was dropped from ODI team. KL Rahul on the other hand barring a couple of innings has failed consistently but retains his place.Performance is not the foremost parameter. Sad

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 9, 2023

Venkatesh Prasad said that if they wanted to give Gill a chance, he could have come in at No.3 and Kishan remain in the team as the wicketkeeper instead of KL Rahul. The former fast bowler said that the constant chopping and changing has been the reason why the Indian team has underperformed in the limited-overs game. Prasad stated that performance is not the main parameter for the India team at the moment.

And if one is convinced to play Gill , then can have him bat at 3 and let Ishan keep wickets instead of KL Rahul.

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 9, 2023

In his tweet, Venkatesh Prasad wrote: “Think fair would have been to give chance to a man who scored a double hundred in India’s last ODI, and in a series where India lost two games and the series. Have all the time in the world for Gill, but no way you drop a player for scoring a double ton. And if one is convinced to play Gill , then can have him bat at 3 and let Ishan keep wickets instead of KL Rahul.”

ALSO READ: Saba Karim Opines India Don’t Need Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma In T20Is

He further wrote: “There is a reason we have underperformed in Limited overs cricket. Constant chopping changing and a guy who does brilliantly and is an X factor is dropped and mediocrity retained. In Eng, Pant scored a hundred in the final ODI and helped India win the series. However, based on T20 form was dropped from ODI team. KL Rahul on the other hand, barring a couple of innings, has failed consistently but retains his place. Performance is not the foremost parameter. Sad”