Mumbai
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said on Monday that fitness, feedback from the dressing room and consistent availability were in his favour when the decision was taken to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as the T20 team captain over Hardik Pandya.
Agarkar was speaking to the media in a press conference along with newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of India's tour of Sri Lanka. The Indian team has to play three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs on the Sri Lanka tour.
During the joint press conference, Agarkar said, “Why was Suryakumar made the captain? Because he was a worthy candidate. He has been in the dressing room for more than a year and has received feedback about him from the dressing room. He has a good understanding of cricket and he is still one of the best batsmen in the world in T20 cricket.” He said, “We wanted such a captain so he played all the matches. We feel he deserves to be the captain and we will see how he fits into this role.”
Agarkar said he wanted a captain who had a good fitness record and who did not have a history of injuries.
About star all-rounder Pandya, Agarkar said, “It is difficult to find skills like Hardik and it is also difficult to get fitness. We have some more time and we can look at some things.” He said, “He is a very important player for us but fitness is a big challenge. We need a player who is available most of the time.”
On ignoring former vice-captain Lokesh Rahul, he said, “I was not there when Rahul was dropped. I was not a selector at that time.” He said, “We still have time. After my arrival, there was a 50-over World Cup and a T20 World Cup. Fitness is a matter of concern. Apart from this, we believe that Suryakumar has all the qualities to become a good captain.”
He said, “Two years is a long time in which we can experiment by looking at some things differently. We need players who are available all the time. This way we will be able to manage Hardik better.”
Agarkar admitted that the selection committee should have made it clear that Ravindra Jadeja, who retired from T20 cricket after the World Cup, has not been dropped. He said, “It made no sense to take both him and Akshar Patel for such a short series. We know what Jaddu has done. He performed brilliantly in the World Cup. He has not been dropped.”
He said, “All options are open. But if both of them are taken, only one of them would play all three matches. There are Test series to be played in future in which Jadeja will play most of the matches. These three matches do not make any difference.”
Agarkar said, “We should have made it clear that he has not been dropped. He is still in our strategy and is a very important player.” He also said that the doors of captaincy are not closed for former vice-captain KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Pandya.
He said, “We wanted to see Pant return to the field first. He is an important player but he has not played much cricket for some time. We did not want to put so much pressure on him after his return.”
He said, “KL has not been in the T20 format for some time. We have time to try. This time Hardik's injury in the T20 against Afghanistan was challenging. Rohit was not playing at that time but his presence made our job easier. We do not want such a situation in the future.”
Agarkar said that the selectors want vice-captain Shubman Gill to learn from experience and senior players. He said, “Shubman is a player of all three formats and has also shown his talent. We want him to learn from senior players and experience. He has shown leadership ability and we would like him to learn from experience.''
Agarkar admitted that there may not be a need for three fast bowlers in Tests in India but the fast bowling combination will be considered in the future. He said, “Mohammed Shami has started bowling which is a good sign. We have to play the first Test on 19 September. We don't know when he will be able to return. We will have to talk to NCA about that. There are many Tests to be held in India and there will not be a need for three fast bowlers in the final 11 but the fast bowling combination will be discussed for the future.”
The T20 series against Sri Lanka will start on July 27. After that there will be two other T20 matches on July 28 and 30. All the matches will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. After this, ODIs will be played on August 2, 4 and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 internationals after winning the T20 World Cup, will be the captain of the ODI team.
Good for TRP but my relationship with Kohli is a personal matter: Gautam Gambhir
India's newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday declared that his much-publicised bond with star batsman Virat Kohli is not for TRPs but is between the two of them and they will be working towards a common goal in the times to come.
Gambhir and Kohli have not been the best of friends and this is evident from the many clashes between the two in the IPL. However, now the duo will be working together from the T20 and ODI tour of Sri Lanka starting July 27.
Gambhir told reporters, “It is good for TRP but my relationship is not public. My relationship with Virat Kohli is between the two of us and it is a relationship between two mature people.”
Gambhir was addressing a press conference along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. India is scheduled to play three T20Is and three ODIs in Sri Lanka.
Referring to Kohli, he said, “We have discussed a lot and everyone has the right to fight for their jersey.”
Gambhir said, “But this time we are representing India. 140 crore Indians and I am sure that we are working for a goal and will try to make India proud.”
Kohli, who recently retired from T20 international cricket, is part of India's ODI team on the Sri Lanka tour.
Gambhir said that the relationship between the two is very good off the field. He said, “And it will remain so. But there is no need to make it public. This is a relationship between two individuals. I have talked to him a lot and sent messages to each other.”
He said, “Sometimes we just want headlines, that is not important. The most important thing right now is that both of us will work hard to hoist the flag of India. That is our job.”
Former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayak and former Netherlands batsman Ryan ten Doeschate will be part of the Indian team's coaching staff for the Sri Lanka tour, who have worked with Gambhir for the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024.
Gambhir said that details about the support staff will be known after the Sri Lanka tour. He said, “I am very happy with the BCCI. They gave me most of the things that I had asked for. Details about the support staff will be known after the Sri Lanka tour. Currently Abhishek and Ryan are assistant coaches and T Dilip will be the fielding coach. Sairaj Bahutule is the interim bowling coach for the Sri Lanka tour.”
