Former India opener Gautama Gambhir has asked the BCCI for clarity in squad selection, saying on Thursday that there should be strong communication between selectors and older players if they are seeking for players beyond them in the future.
The BCCI revealed the teams for the next limited-overs series against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, although it is unclear if the senior three of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul, along with Rishabh Pant, have been rested or omitted for the white-ball series, which begins on January 3.
“There should be no ambiguity.
The selectors and these players must communicate effectively. So be it if the selection committee decides to look beyond these folks. “I believe several countries have done so,” Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo.
Gambhir wants more clarity on individual players’ roles and positions in the team, but he doesn’t understand the outrage over the firing of senior veterans.
“We make too much of a fuss when selection and management move beyond certain individuals.
Finally, it’s not about the individuals, but about how you want to go with your preparations for the next (T20) World Cup (in 2024), because you want to win it. If these men haven’t accomplished that, I believe you never know. People like Suryakumar, the younger generation, have the potential to realise that ambition “According to Gambhir.
However, Gambhir believes that the trio’s revival in the shortest format is now difficult.
“To me, it appears to be difficult,” Gambhir added. “Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan should both be considered. I’d want to bring in Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, and Sanju Samson in addition to Hardik Pandya. They are capable of playing courageous cricket.”
Gambhir also slammed the current team administration, led by Rahul Dravid, for wanting a “aggressive template” from the squad.
“We spoke a lot about the template and whatnot going up to the last (T20) World Cup, about how we want to play at a specific template, about how we want to play aggressive cricket, but when it came to the big game (semi-final versus England), all that flew out the window,” Gambhir said.
However, the former left-handed hitter feels that only the next generation of players will be able to follow this ‘aggressive’ style.
“Hopefully, the next generation of cricketers will be able to follow that model and play the T20 cricket that everyone wants India to play.
So, if these people continue to do well in their opportunities, I believe it will be tough for the rest of the men who have been rested or will be rested in the future.
Gambhir also feels Rishabh Pant, who will report to the NCA in the first week of January for a strength and conditioning programme, has been dropped from white-ball cricket due to inconsistency and has not been rested.
“First and foremost, the selectors must be clear whether he has been rested or dropped,” Gambhir remarked. “He (must have been) dropped from white-ball cricket, according to me. There has never been sufficient clarification. This word’rest’ is quite useful; it was not present when we were playing. We were either dropped or chosen.”
Selectors and senior players should communicate well about their status in the team: Gautama Gambhir
