- Tuesday, March 04, 2025
The head coach also dismissed theories that he is under pressure after India’s 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand
By: Shajil Kumar
HEAD coach Gautam Gambhir is not overtly worried about the transition Indian team has to face in near future and defended under-pressure skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli, saying they will bounce back in Australia.
“We are going to Australia to play five Test matches and there are some incredibly tough people in that dressing room who are going to achieve a lot of good things in future as well,” Gambhir said in pre-departure press conference.
The first Test against Australia starts in Perth on November 22.
In his typical straight-shooter manner, Gambhir said it was media’s obsession to talk about transition.
“You guys can keep talking about the transition and all that stuff. For me, they are still very hungry. I am sure they have got a lot of fire to achieve a lot of success for the nation,” the former India opener said, batting for senior pros Kohli and Sharma.
Gambhir also dismissed theories that he is under pressure after India’s 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand. There has been a review, reports of him not being on same page with selection committee. Social media frenzy has been on overdrive on these issues.
“What difference does it make? Tell me, social media, what difference does it make in my life and for that matter, anyone’s life?,” Gambhir quipped.
“When I took up this job, I always thought that it is going to be a highly difficult job and highly prestigious job as well.
However Gambhir understands the criticism that his team faced after New Zealand debacle and he is “ready to accept it with both hands.”
He also made it clear that if Rohit is not available for the opening Test due to personal reasons, KL Rahul could open. Abhimanyu Easwaran is another option.
“There are times when you go with the experienced players as well, and that is the quality of a man that he (Rahul) can actually bat at the top of the order, he can bat at number 3 and he can actually bat at number 6 as well.
“So you need quite a lot of talent to be doing these kind of jobs as well and he has kept wickets in one day format as well. So imagine how many countries have players like KL who can actually open the batting and can bat at number 6 as well?
With so many first timers in the squad, what kind of conversations did he have with juniors, who are travelling to Australia for the first time?
“I have just told them to put team first before personal milestones,” Gambhir said.
Ponting remark
Gambhir flayed Ricky Ponting for questioning Virat Kohli’s form and place in Indian team, saying the Australian legend should only be concerned about cricket in his country.
Ponting had recently said Kohli’s form is a concern, given the Indian batter has scored only two Test centuries in last five years but also felt that the Indian legend has it in him to roar back to form and there is no better place than Australia to do so.
“What does Ponting have to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket. More importantly, I have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit,” Gambhir remarked.
Kohli has just one fifty this year – 70 against Bangladesh in Kanpur Test – while his last Test century came in July 2023 against the West Indies.
Someone, who averaged above 50 in Test cricket from 2016 to 2019, Kohli has managed only 1838 runs from 34 Tests at an average of 31.68, with two centuries since then.
Manjrekar flays Gambhir
Launching an unexpected scathing attack on Gambhir, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar on Monday said the India head coach lacks the “right demeanour and words” while interacting with the press and urged the BCCI to keep him away from the media duties.
Manjrekar’s comments came hours after Gambhir addressed media in pre-departure press conference ahead of the five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
“Just watched Gambhir in the press conference. May be wise for @BCCI to keep him away from such duties, let him work behind the scenes,” Manjrekar wrote on ‘X’.
Manjrekar suggested that either captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar would be better suited to handle the media.
“He does not have the right demeanour nor the words when interacting with them. Rohit & Agarkar, much better guys to front up for the media,” he added.
Manjrekar though did not clarify in his tweet which part of Gambhir’s press conference he found offensive. (PTI)
