Former India batsman S Badrinath has launched a scathing criticism at the selectors for the squads announced for Team India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

The Men in Blue are scheduled to play three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka. The series will begin later this month. The BCCI announced both teams earlier this week. While several changes were expected in the squads, it is safe to say that the selectors managed to spring a number of surprises.

One of the decisions that has not gone down well with many is the exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the T20I squad. The right-handed batsman was part of the squad that took part in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe earlier this month and also performed well.

The Maharashtra star scored 133 runs in 3 innings, including knocks of 49* and 77. Before the series against Zimbabwe, Ruturaj Gaikwad had impressed with the bat in the IPL as well. Leading Chennai Super Kings, he finished the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer, scoring 583 runs with the help of a century and 4 half-centuries.

S Badrinath slams selectors:

Despite Ruturaj Gaikwad performing well in the T20s, the selectors decided to ignore him for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. And the decision has not gone down well with S Badrinath.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, the former Tamil Nadu stalwart slammed the selectors and said that players can achieve great things in Indian cricket only if they maintain a bad boy image and manage to stay in the news.

“When I see players like Ruturaj and Rinku not in power, I feel that players need a bad boy image. Either you have to be in a relationship with two or three actresses or get tattoos or always be in the news or get a good PR director, only then you will reach the top in Indian cricket,” Badrinath said.

“When I see players like Ruturaj and Rinku not up to par, I feel players need a bad boy image. You should be in a relationship with two or three actresses or get tattoos or always be in the news or get a good PR manager, only then will you go high in Indian cricket.”

– arfan (@Im__Arfan) July 20, 2024

Badrinath’s reference to Rinku Singh was about the T20 World Cup snub. Even though the left-hander had performed extremely well in T20s, even in international cricket, he could not find a place in the World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, the three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin on July 27. After the T20Is, the ODIs will begin on August 2.