Gautam Gambhir Press Conference To Make Big Decisions

Published: July 22, 2024

Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, and Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI selection committee chief, recently convened a news conference to discuss a variety of subjects, including the futures of key players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya. Gambhir lauded Hardik Pandya’s talent set while acknowledging concerns about his conditioning.

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Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir Press Conference Live

Gambhir has provided additional information about the Indian team’s support crew. “We can’t finalise yet. But people like Ryan (Ten Doeschate) and Abhishek (Nayar) are someone I’ve worked with. I’ve got some really good feedback from the players as well about the other guys as well.”

So Abhishek and Ryan will be the assistant coaches, with Sairaj Bahutule and T Dilip traveling to Sri Lanka. Morne Morkel is likely to join before the Bangladesh series. There is no official news on the former South African seamer, however.

Gautam Gambhir on Kohli, Bumrah, Rohit workload

“I’ve said it before, workload management for someone like Jasprit (Bumrah) is important. He is one rare bowler, which anyone would want. You want him to play important games. That’s why the workload management for not just him but fast bowlers is important.

“If you are a batter, who’s batting well, you might as well just play all formats. Rohit and Virat Kholi have retired from T20Is now, so they will play two formats from now. Hopefully they are available for most of the games.”

Gautam Gambhir on relationship with Kohli

“Very good for the TRPs (his run-ins with Kohli in the IPL) but my relationship with him is not public. On the field, everyone will fight for their own team. At the moment, we are representing India. I share a very good relationship. I have had lots of chances to talk to him. It is not important what we discuss. The most important thing is we both have to work hard to make India proud. He is a thorough professional, a world-class player, and that is going to continue.”

Ajit Agarkar on Shami’s return a possibility?

Agarkar says, “He has started to bowl. The first Test is 19th September. That was always the goal (him making a comeback by that time). Whether he can make it back to the squad by that time, I’ll have to speak with the guys at the NCA.”

3 different teams for different formats?

“Going forward these things happen. Can’t say right now that there are going to be 3 different teams. T20 will be in transition with world class players retiring. The more players that can play both all formats the better,” says Gambhir. “On the same page, if you have got players who can play all formats then great,” says Agarkar.

Gautam Gambhir On Kohli, Rohit and their legacy

Gautam Gambhir says: “They have shown what they can deliver on the big stage. Both have lot of cricket left in them. The Champions Trophy, if they keep their fitness then even the 2027 World Cup. Looking at what they can deliver, they are still world class and any team India would want to have both of them.”

Agarkar on making tough calls

“You’ve got to see who has been picked ahead of them. At this stage, we had a chance to give some of the guys a go in Zimbabwe. We have depth. Rinku missed out on t20 World Cup for no fault of his, sometimes that is just the way it goes. Difficult to fit everyone in the 15. That is generally the life of a player. It is tough but that is the reality.”

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar: What is Jadeja’s future?

“(Ravindra) Jadeja is not at all dropped and still within in the scheme of things. Very important player and is likely to feature in the upcoming busy Test season.”

Gambhir on what he inherits from Dravid

“I am taking over a very very successful team. T20 World champions, runners-up In WTC and ODI World Cup. I have a fabulous relationship with Jay Shah and all these speculations about different things, we can do a better job by clarifying a few things than putting these things in media. The betterment of Gautam Gambhir is not important, Indian cricket is.”