In the wake of the Indian cricket team’s recent series loss against New Zealand, head coach Gautam Gambhir has faced considerable criticism on social media. However, the former India opener remains undeterred by the online backlash and emphasised that the prestigious nature of his role demands him to be absolutely honest.
On Online Backlash
Addressing the issue, Gambhir stated, “What difference does social media make in my life and anyone’s life? When I took up this job, I always knew that it was going to be a highly difficult job and a highly prestigious job as well. I don’t think I’m feeling the heat because my job is to be absolutely honest.”
Gambhir also highlighted the resilience and dedication of the players in the Indian dressing room. “There are some incredibly tough people in that dressing room who have achieved some great things for the country and will continue to achieve some great things for the country. So it’s an absolute honour to be coaching them and coaching India,” he remarked at the press conference on Monday.
On Rohit-Kohli’s Form
Addressing the media before departing for Australia for the five-match Test series, Gambhir responded to questions regarding Kohli and Rohit’s form. Terming Ponting’s opinions on Indian cricket ‘irrelevant’, the former batter affirmed that both the big guns have a lot of passion and hunger for the team.
“Not at all…Ricky Ponting should think about Australian cricket. What concerns does he have for Indian cricket? Virat and Rohit are incredibly tough men. They’ve achieved a lot for Indian cricket and will continue to achieve a lot,” Gambhir said.
“They still work hard. They’re still passionate. They still want to achieve a lot more, which is very important. The hunger in that dressing room is incredibly important for me and for the entire group of people as well in that dressing room. I feel there’s a lot of hunger, especially after what happened in the last series,” he added.
So far in 2024, Kohli and Rohit have struggled to find their best form, attracting scrutiny following India’s recent 0-3 series loss against New Zealand. Rohit has accumulated 588 runs from 11 matches this year, averaging 29.40 with two centuries and two fifties.
Meanwhile, Kohli has managed just 250 runs from six matches (12 innings), averaging 22.72 with just one half-century.
On Rohit’s Availability?
Gambhir has clarified the team’s contingency plans in case captain Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first Test. “If Rohit is unavailable for the first Test match, there is KL Rahul. We will take a call closer to the first match,” Gambhir announced.
Gambhir emphasised the importance of every series and the Indian team’s readiness to face Australia. “When you play for your country, every series is important. Irrespective of the past, for us, it is two good teams playing against each other, and we are absolutely keen to go out there, perform, and win the series,” he said.
Highlighting KL Rahul’s versatility, Gambhir stated, “There are times you go with experienced players as well. He can also bat at the top, middle order, and at No. 6. He can keep wicket and do the job for us if Rohit is not available for the 1st Test.”
Gambhir provided an update on Rohit’s availability but kept the final decision open, adding, “There is no confirmation. We’ll let you know. Hopefully, he’ll be available. Everything you’ll get to know by the start of the series.”
On WTC Final
Despite the recent setbacks, Gambhir’s focus remains on guiding the team through these challenges and continuing to strive for success on the international stage. Following India’s shambolic fall against New Zealand on home turf, the road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final has become tricky. With a 3-0 series whitewash, India must win the series by 4-0 to punch their ticket to feature in London for the third successive time for the WTC final. “Honestly, we’re not focused on the WTC Final at the moment. Every series is important, and we have two strong teams set to compete,” Gambhir said.
After the conclusion series opener in Perth, the second Test, featuring the day-night format, will take place under lights at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. Fans will then turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test from December 14 to 18.
The traditional Boxing Day Test, scheduled from December 26 to 30 at Melbourne’s iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will mark the series’ penultimate stage. The fifth and final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, promising an exciting climax to a highly anticipated series.
India’s Squad For Border-Gavaskar Series: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.
Australia Squad For The First Test: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.
