India's head coach discussed Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as skipper in T20I and the future of senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.
New Delhi: India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, fearlessly tackled some challenging questions during a press conference on Monday. Besides chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar, Gambhir discussed recent decisions ahead of the upcoming limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka. He discussed Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as skipper in T20I and the future of senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. Here are the key takeaways from the event:
🗣️ In sport, it's all about winning#TeamIndia Head Coach @GautamGambhir shares his experiences and learnings#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/RdCzSfWeXg
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1. Hardik Pandya's fitness concerns
The selection of Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I captain was surprising to many, given that Hardik Pandya had been Rohit's deputy, especially during India's victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. Agarkar explained that the decision was influenced by Pandya's fitness issues. “We need a captain who can play as many games as possible,” Agarkar said. Suryakumar, being the world's top T20 batter, received positive feedback from the team regarding his leadership abilities.
2. Kohli, Rohit's future
Gambhir addressed the longevity of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He emphasized that the decision to continue playing lies with the players themselves. “Kohli and Rohit will play as long as their bodies allow them to,” Gambhir said, even suggesting they might appear in the 2027 World Cup. Both players are included in the upcoming ODI series in Sri Lanka. Gambhir believes they still have much to contribute if they maintain their fitness.
3. No rift between Gambhir, Kohli
Addressing speculations about his relationship with Kohli, Gambhir dismissed any notion of a rift. Despite their intense on-field encounters in the IPL, Gambhir clarified that these incidents were merely good for television ratings and did not reflect their off-field relationship. “Whether I have discussions with Kohli or not is not as important as our commitment to the Indian team,” Gambhir stated. He praised Kohli as a “thorough professional,” “world-class athlete,” and “world-class player.”
4. Ravindra Jadeja's vital role
There were questions about all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's absence from the Indian ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour. Agarkar clarified that Jadeja, who retired from T20 cricket after the T20 World Cup win, was only rested. He remains a crucial part of the team, especially for the upcoming five-Test series in Australia.
5. Suryakumar Yadav's ODI exclusion
Despite his new role as T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav might not find a spot in the ODI squad. Agarkar stated that with the return of Rishabh Pant and the presence of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer in the middle order, there is no room for Suryakumar in the 50-over format.
