By Prarthana Hazarika
New Delhi, Sept 4: Kidambi Srikanth has surprised the badminton world before. His latest victory over Viktor Lai, however, could be more than just another upset on the circuit. It could be a reminder that the former World No. 1 still has enough quality—and perhaps more importantly, hunger—to trouble the best.
Former India international Ajit Wijetilekk, who has closely followed Srikanth over the years and has also worked with him, believes the victory revealed an important change in the Indian shuttler.
It was not merely about the strokes. It was about the mindset.
“Srikanth has a terrific attack, but his attack is not only based on the power of his smashes. He has got this lovely penetrative attack, which is based on precision and a lot of placement,” Wijetilekk said.
Srikanth’s trademark jump smash remains one of his biggest weapons, but Wijetilekk believes his ability to combine it with a well-disguised half-smash made the difference against Lai.
“That was something Viktor Lai was not quite ready for,” he said.
Lai had been enjoying an impressive run over the last 12 to 15 months and had already demonstrated his ability to challenge established names. His retrieving ability, court coverage and penetrating smash have made him one of the more difficult opponents on the circuit.
He had also defeated Lakshya Sen, but Wijetilekk believes comparing Lakshya and Srikanth would be unfair because their games are fundamentally different.
“Lakshya and Srikanth are two different kinds of players. Lakshya’s game is a lot about retrieving and counter-attacking, while Srikanth has a more penetrative attacking game,” he explained.
Srikanth, he added, remains one of the finest movers on a badminton court.
His court coverage, variety, steep smashes and ability to create angles with his attacking strokes continue to make him a dangerous opponent.
But what impressed Wijetilekk most against Lai was Srikanth’s attitude at the crucial moments.
“He came back in both the sets to win. He showed a little bit more desire and hunger to actually get the match than Lakshya did,” he said.
That hunger is significant because Wijetilekk has seen another side of Srikanth during the difficult period leading up to the 2024 Olympics.
“I was with Srikanth in Europe during that period. I just felt that in the previous run to the Olympics, he was taking a lot of pressure and was not able to close out matches, though he was playing quite well,” he recalled.
At the Swiss Open, for instance, Srikanth had shown flashes of his best badminton, but struggled when matches reached the business end.
“He was hesitant. He was not going for his shots,” Wijetilekk said.
Against Lai, that hesitation appeared to have disappeared.
“He was trailing in both sets, but he upped his game and went for his shots. He didn’t second-guess himself. He was looking determined, but also more relaxed.”
For a player of Srikanth’s pedigree, that mental freedom could be crucial.
The men’s singles landscape has also changed considerably. Unlike previous eras dominated by a handful of players, the current top 25-30 is increasingly competitive, with almost anyone capable of beating anyone on a given day.
The demanding international calendar and recovery from back-to-back tournaments also play a role. Lai had come into the tournament after the World Championships and, according to Wijetilekk, may have been carrying some fatigue.
But he was quick to add that it should take nothing away from Srikanth.
“We all know that Srikanth has the strokes to penetrate anyone in the world. That’s a no-brainer.”
Wijetilekk also questioned whether Srikanth has been written off too soon.
“Srikanth has one of the best physiques in badminton. He has great flow and is one of the best movers on court. His court coverage is second to none. He has the steep smashes, the cross-court smashes and the variety in his strokeplay.”
There are no guarantees in elite sport. But Srikanth’s latest victory has reopened an intriguing possibility.
The former World No. 1 may not be the player he was at his peak. But if he can continue to combine his exceptional strokeplay and movement with the relaxed, fearless approach he showed against Viktor Lai, Kidambi Srikanth may still have a few surprises left in him.
