Rahul Dravid would later have to face the music over India's bold choices if Hardik Pandya and Co. suffer a hat-trick of defeats against the West Indies in their final leg of the multi-format tour on Tuesday. In the absence of seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India were outplayed by the West Indies in the first two matches of the five-game T20I series in the Caribbean. For the first time since 2016, the Men In Blue have lost back-to-back matches against the West Indies.
With India staring at a historic series defeat in the Caribbean, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has launched a scathing attack on Indian head coach Dravid. At a time when India are grappling with experiments in the ODI World Cup year, ex-cricketer Kaneria has slammed the Men In Blue for not showing enough intent in the T20Is. Kaneria also suggested that Dravid should not coach the Indian team in the shortest format. The former Pakistani cricketer and full-time cricket pundit has also named an ideal replacement for Dravid at Team India.
'Dravid doesn't deserve to be a coach in T20s'
"Why is this Indian team not showing enough intent? Hardik Pandya has achieved a lot of success with Gujarat Titians because of Ashish Nehra's presence. India must show more intent in T20Is, and a coach plays a big role in that. Rahul Dravid, no doubt, was a world-class player, but Dravid doesn't deserve to be a coach in T20s. He is very slow. On the other hand, you see Ashish Nehra constantly do something and pass on messages in the field. I think he should get an opportunity," Kaneria argued on YouTube.
‘Samson, when are you going to score runs?’
{{/usCountry}}"Why is this Indian team not showing enough intent? Hardik Pandya has achieved a lot of success with Gujarat Titians because of Ashish Nehra's presence. India must show more intent in T20Is, and a coach plays a big role in that. Rahul Dravid, no doubt, was a world-class player, but Dravid doesn't deserve to be a coach in T20s. He is very slow. On the other hand, you see Ashish Nehra constantly do something and pass on messages in the field. I think he should get an opportunity," Kaneria argued on YouTube.
‘Samson, when are you going to score runs?’
{{/usCountry}}Kaneria also lashed out at Sanju Samson for not scoring runs in the five-match series. Pitted against wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, gloveman Samson is operating as a specialist batter in the T20Is. Averaging 9.50, Samson has only scored 19 runs in the first T20Is of the five-game series. Kaneria, who earlier extended his support to Samson, admitted that the power-hitter has failed to make the most of the opportunities given to him in the white-ball leg. "India rested Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli so that they could give others a chance, as many have complained that a few players haven't had enough opportunities. Now that India have played them, when are you going to score runs, Sanju Samson? He has had enough chances now. I was among the people who supported him and wanted him to get consistent opportunities. However, he hasn't made the most of these chances," Kaneria added.