'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAlZMLU//EACAQAAIBAwQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDBAEFEQASFCETMjP/2gAIAQEAAT8As8BFsi8QUx5C7iqgSDkJFh06qOVFX5+2pdiTyneJpgveW0a94pnX/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMRAv/aAAgBAgEBPwBLd20//8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDETH/2gAIAQMBAT8AlRco/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir addressed his first press conference after being named head coach, along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, in Mumbai on Monday, July 22. The press meet was held ahead of the Indian team's departure for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. The Men in Blue will play three T20Is and as many ODIs in the island nation from July 27 to August 7.
During the press conference, Gambhir and Agarkar opened up on various crucial selection issues, some of which have gone on to become a matter of big debates. From senior batter Suryakumar Yadav being named the T20I captain ahead of seasoned all-rounder Hardik Pandya to Shubman Gill being named the vice-captain in both ODIs and T20Is, clarity was provided on the major developments.
On that note, we take a look at five major talking points from the Gambhir-Agarkar press conference in Mumbai ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.
#1 Hardik Pandya's fitness woes cost him captaincy
All-rounder Pandya was the vice-captain of the Indian team that lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup held in West Indies and United States last month. However, Suryakumar has been named the captain of the T20I team for the Sri Lanka series. As expected, the Pandya query was brought up right away at the press conference. Agarkar confirmed that fitness concerns led to the move.
"Obviously, you want a captain that is likely to play all the games... As regards to Hardik, he's still a very important player for us... Those sorts of skillsets are very difficult to find, what he has. Fitness obviously has been a challenge for him over the last few years and that then becomes a little bit more difficult for a coach or even us selectors," he stated.
Agarkar further asserted that Suryakumar has the necessary qualities to succeed as a captain, adding that his development in the role will be monitored closely.
#2 Gambhir's seriously good response to query on relationship with Kohli
When Gambhir is around, a Virat Kohli question is bound to come up considering the two haven't shared a very cordial relation over the years. However, the new India head coach stated that he shares a good rapport with the star batter and added that the relationship between the two is a private matter.
Taking a dig at those who keep bringing up the differences between Gambhir and Kohli, the head coach said that such matters are good for TRPs. Gambhir said:
"Good for the TRP, but my relationship is not public. What kind of a relationship I share with Kohli, it's between two mature individuals. On the field, everyone has got the right to fight for their own jersey and come back to a winning dressing room. But at the moment, we're representing India, representing 140 crore Indians and I'm sure we're going to be on the same page and try and make India proud."
Putting aside their differences, Gambhir and Kohli shared a warm hug during the IPL 2024 match between RCB and KKR at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
#3 Agarkar explains Gill vice-captaincy move
In an interesting and prominent move, young batter Gill was named the vice-captain of both the ODI and the T20I squads for the Sri Lanka tour. Incidentally, Gill was not part of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad and was named as a travelling reserve. Opening up on the decision, Agarkar explained that it has been done keeping the future in mind. Backing Gill as a leader, he commented:
"Shubman is a guy we feel is a three-format player, firstly. And he seems to show a lot of good qualities over the last year or so. That's why we wanted to have somebody who can also learn from a couple of senior guys who are there."
Gill led the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2024. The franchise, however, did not have a good season and failed to make the playoffs.
#4 Ravindra Jadeja rested, not dropped
After all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was left out of the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour, some experts began writing epitaphs on his white-ball career. The 35-year-old announced his retirement from T20Is after an underwhelming World Cup campaign. At the press conference on Monday, though, Agarkar confirmed that the all-rounder had been rested and not dropped from the one-day team.
"No, [he is] not at all dropped. All options are open. Either of them [Jadeja or Axar Patel] wouldn't have played all three games if we'd taken both. There's a big Test season coming up, where he's likely to feature in a lot of the Tests. I don't think three games would have mattered. I think we probably should have clarified after the selection that he's not been dropped," the chief selector clarified.
Question marks have been raised over Jadeja's place in the white-ball team lately, with Axar lifting his game, especially in the batting department.
#5 Gambhir's frank views on Rohit and Kohli's ODI future
Rohit Sharma and Kohli retired from T20Is after India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Rohit turned 37 in April this year, while Kohli will be 36 in November. The next ODI World Cup will be played in 2027. So, obviously there are question marks over whether the two superstars are in the scheme of things.
Praising both Kohli and Rohit, head coach Gambhir made it clear that it will all depend on their fitness.
"One thing I can be very clear of is that both of those guys have a lot of cricket left in them...I think they have shown what they can deliver on the big stage, whether it's the T20 World Cup or the 50-over World Cup.. Hopefully, if they can keep their fitness, the 2027 World Cup as well," Gambhir commented.
Kohli and Rohit were the top two run-getters in the 2023 ODI World Cup in which India finished as the runners-up.
Other crucial talking points from Gambhir-Agarkar press conference
Here are some other major talking points from the press conference addressed by Gambhir and Agarkar on Monday.
- Workload management for someone like Jasprit Bumrah is important: Gambhir
- Gambhir confirms Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches for Sri Lanka tour
- "We can only pick 15," Agarkar on Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad getting dropped
- "You've got to hit the reset button," Agarkar on KL Rahul being ignored for T20Is again
