'He'll soon become captain' — Kris Srikkanth on Tilak Varma

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has criticised the team management for shielding Tilak Varma from fast bowling. It's a strange call, he argues, when Varma's already vice-captain — and headed for the top job. How does that prepare him for the pressure he'll face as leader?

Srikkanth's point is straightforward: young players can't build the skills they need at the highest level if they're protected from express pace. Varma's in the leadership group. He should be tested against it, not hidden from it. The management's approach, Srikkanth says, won't serve him well once he takes charge.

It's part of a wider tension in Indian cricket right now — how much do you shelter emerging talent versus how much do you throw them into the fire? Former players have weighed in before on selection and prep strategies. The current management hasn't responded.