Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has opened up about his selection process for Team India. Gambhir, who has been vocal about his beliefs in players featuring across all three formats, emphasised the importance of domestic cricket as a yardstick for selection. His coaching stint for the national side will kick off with the India tour of Sri Lanka.
India needs three format players
In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Gambhir stated that he believes players should be featuring across formats—Test, One-Day International (ODI), and T20 International (T20I)—to be considered for selection to the national team.
This approach is a departure from the recent trend of focusing on players who excel in a single format. Gambhir’s stance is rooted in his own experience as a cricketer, where he played across all formats and believes that this versatility is crucial for a player’s overall development.
During the conversation, the former Indian opener said, “I’m a very strong believer in one thing: if you’re good, you should be playing all the three formats. I’ve never been a big believer in injury management, you get injured, you go get recovered. As simple as it gets. When you’re playing international cricket, and you’re good enough, you ask any of the top players, they want to play all the three formats.”
Gambhir also highlighted the role of domestic cricket in the selection process. He emphasised that players who perform consistently in domestic cricket are more likely to be selected for the national team. This emphasis on domestic cricket is a significant shift from the past, where international performances were often prioritised over domestic performances. Gambhir’s approach is aimed at ensuring that players are well-prepared for the rigours of international cricket by first demonstrating their skills at the domestic level.
Injuries will be part of the game
The new head coach’s strategy puts steady play ahead of workload control. The veteran feels that a player should play all the forms instead of focusing on just one in order to manage their workload after suffering an injury.
Gambhir, during the interview, elaborated, “Injuries are part of a sportsman’s life. And if you’re playing all three formats, you get injured, you go back, and you get recovered, but you should be playing all three formats. I am not a big believer in identifying people that we’re going to keep him for test matches or other formats. We’re going to manage his injury and workload and stuff,” he added. Professional cricketers, you’ve got a very small span when you’re playing for your country, and you want to play as much as you can. And when you’re in very good form, go ahead and play all the three formats.”
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Criticism of the approach
Gauti’s selection process is not without controversy. Some critics argue that his approach may lead to a lack of opportunities for players who excel in a single format but struggle in others. However, Gambhir is adamant that his method will ultimately benefit the team by ensuring that players are well-rounded and capable of performing in any situation.
The interview also touched on Gambhir’s appointment as head coach, which has been met with some scepticism given his lack of formal coaching experience. However, Gambhir has been praised for his ability to create a winning environment and his strong relationships with players. His appointment has been seen as a bold move by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is looking to the future and seeking a coach who can inspire the next generation of Indian cricketers.
Gambhir’s selection process is likely to be closely watched, especially given the high expectations that come with coaching the Indian national team. His emphasis on domestic cricket and the importance of playing all three formats will be closely scrutinized. However, Gambhir remains confident in his approach and is eager to see it implemented.
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