Gautam Gambhir full press conference
What all did the new Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir say in his first press conference?
Gautam Gambhir on Rohit, Kohli’s future
Gambhir: “If they can keep their fitness, the 2027 World Cup as well (to stay motivated)”.
Gautam Gambhir dwelled on his relationship with Virat Kohli
Gautam Gambhir: “My relationship with Virat Kohli is between the two of us and not for TRP”.
Why did Gambhir, selectors go with Suryakumar as T20I captain over Pandya?
Gautam Gambhir said: “We wanted a captain, who is likely to play all the games”. What more did he say?
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Fin!
That’s all that the newly appointed India coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector had to say about their decisions and the squad for the Sri Lanka series. The series begins on Saturday with the first T20I. Join us then for our coverage and before that, stick around for everything from the world of sport.
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Gambhir’s team
Gambhir has elaborated on the support staff for the Indian team. “We can’t finalise yet. But people like Ryan (Ten Doeschate) and Abhishek (Nayar) are someone I’ve worked with. I’ve got some really good feedback from the players as well about the other guys as well.”
So it is Abhishek and Ryan as assistant coaches, Sairaj Bahutule and T Dilip will travel to Sri Lanka. Morne Morkel, meanwhile, is expected to join before the Bangladesh series. No official word on the former South Africa seamer though
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Gambhir on Kohli, Bumrah, Rohit workload
“I’ve said it before, workload management for someone like Jasprit (Bumrah) is important. He is one rare bowler, which anyone would want. You want him to play important games. That’s why the workload management for not just him but fast bowlers is important.
“If you are a batter, who’s batting well, you might as well just play all formats. Rohit and Virat have retired from T20Is now, so they will play two formats from now. Hopefully they are available for most of the games.”
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Gambhir on relationship with Kohli
“Very good for the TRPs (his run-ins with Kohli in the IPL) but my relationship with him is not public. On the field, everyone will fight for their own team. At the moment, we are representing India. I share a very good relationship. I have had lots of chances to talk to him. It is not important what we discuss. The most important thing is we both have to work hard to make India proud. He is a thorough professional, a world-class player, and that is going to continue.”
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Shami’s return a possibility?
Agarkar says, “He has started to bowl. The first Test is 19th September. That was always the goal (him making a comeback by that time). Whether he can make it back to the squad by that time, I’ll have to speak with the guys at the NCA.”
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: 3 different teams for different formats?
“Going forward these things happen. Can’t say right now that there are going to be 3 different teams. T20 will be in transition with world class players retiring. The more players that can play both all formats the better,” says Gambhir. “On the same page, if you have got players who can play all formats then great,” adds Agarkar.
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Gambhir’s mantra as coach
Gautam Gambhir: “It’s all about winning, I don’t deviate from something like that. A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. I don’t like to complicate things. Ultimately, it’s the players’ team. We need to try to keep them happy, that’s one thing that we definitely will be working towards.”
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Agarkar on Pant, KL Rahul
“Rishabh has been out for a long time. So we want to bring him back without burdening him. Someone who has come back after a long time, you need to bring them back in the scheme of things gradually.
KL, one of the feedbacks he has got is ‘you’ve got to hit the reset button’. Shubman is an all-format player, that’s how we see him.”
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Gauti on his team
Gautam Gambhir has elaborated on his team. Abhishek Nayyar, Ryan Ryan tan Doeschate as the assistant coaches; T Dilip as the fielding coach. Sairaj Bahutule to travel with the team. Ryan will meet the squad in Colombo.
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Gill a 3-format player
Ajit Agarkar: “Shubman Gill is the guy we feel is a three-format player. Has shown a lot more qualities over the last year or so, that’s what we hear from the dressing room. He has shown some decent leadership qualities. We want to try and give him the experience, though there are no guarantees.”
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: On Kohli, Rohit and their legacy
Gautam Gambhir says: “They have shown what they can deliver on the big stage. Both have lot of cricket left in them. The Champions Trophy, if they keep their fitness then even the 2027 World Cup. Looking at what they can deliver, they are still world class and any team would want to have both of them.”
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: Agarkar on making tough calls
Agarkar: “You’ve got to see who has been picked ahead of them. At this stage, we had a chance to give some of the guys a go in Zimbabwe. We have depth. Rinku missed out on t20 World Cup for no fault of his, sometimes that is just the way it goes. Difficult to fit everyone in the 15. That is generally the life of a player. It is tough but that is the reality.”
Gautam Gambhir LIVE: India’s Test cricket schedule
Gambhir: “After the Sri Lanka tour, we’ve got a long break and then we have 10 Test matches. That’s what the challenge is all about. Hopefully we can do well in these 10 Test matches. Jadeja is important for those 10 Test matches. Looking forward to those 10 matches.”
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: What is Jadeja’s future?
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar: “(Ravindra) Jadeja is not at all dropped and still within in the scheme of things. Very important player and is likely to feature in the upcoming busy Test season.”
Gautam Gambhir LIVE: Gambhir on what he inherits from Dravid
Gautam Gambhir speaks to the media in his first press conference as India coach. Image: JioCinema
Gautam Gambhir: “I am taking over a very very successful team. T20 World champions, runners-up In WTC and ODI World Cup. I have a fabulous relationship with Jay Shah and all these speculations about different things, we can do a better job by clarifying a few things than putting these things in media. The betterment of Gautam Gambhir is not important, Indian cricket is.”
Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar LIVE: Selector Agarkar on SKY
Ajit Agarkar on Suryakumar Yadav being made T20I skipper over Hardik Pandya: “We want a captain who can play all of the games. His skillset is difficult to find. Fitness has been a challenge for him. It becomes difficult for a coach and a selector. We have time till the next T20 World Cup. Fitness is a clear challenge. We want someone who is likely to be available more often than not. Surya has the qualities needed to succeed as a captain.”
Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar in place for the press conference
Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar address the media. Image: Disney+ Hotstar
Gautam Gambhir says it is important to give players the freedom and wants trust from the players. “They will always have my back,” says the new India coach. “I’m taking over a very successful team – T20 world champions, runners up in World Test Championship and runners up in ODI World Cup”
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: Bahutule to travel for Sri Lanka series
With Gambhir’s support staff yet to be officially announced, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a temporary arrangement, appointing Sairaj Bahutule, associated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA), as the interim bowling coach for the Sri Lanka series. Morne Morkel is expected to join the team and form part of Gambhir’s support staff after the series.
Bahutule (51) will work alongside Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. T Dilip will continue to be the fielding coach.
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: What next for Jadeja, Shami, Hardik and KL Rahul?
As per a ESPNCricinfo report, here are the big takeaways and insider thoughts behind the decisions:
– Jadeja has been rested from ODIs and not dropped
– Selectors want to give Axar a chance in the 50-over format
– Selectors want to keep Jadeja fresh for Tests
– Shami in consideration for the 2025 Champions Trophy
– Kuldeep rested from T20Is
– Selectors want Bishnoi to gain experience
– Chahal remains backup
– Pandya wanted to be rested from ODIs
– KL Rahul key for ODIs, Tests, not T20Is
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: Where to watch?
The press conference will be live streamed on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: Did Hardik Pandya deserved the T20I captaincy?
You can be confident that the first question for Gambhir will be on Pandya following the captaincy snub. Is snub the right word in this case? Considering his fitness issues, does it make sense to look elsewhere for continuity? Or, was he the more clear and obvious choice after Rohit Sharma. He had led the team in the past and appeared to be the heavy favourite. That changed when Gambhir took the role on. Or so it seems.
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: Jadeja rested, not dropped?
As per ESPNCricinfo, Jadeja has been assured by the selectors that he’s been rested and not dropped from the ODI team. Remember he had retired from the T20Is after the World Cup.
There are reportedly two reasons behind Jadeja’s absence:
“Both the selectors and (newly appointed coach) [Gautam] Gambhir are keen to give Axar Patel a chance in ODIs and see if he can play the same role he has successfully performed in T20Is. With just three ODIs in the Sri Lanka series, the selectors and Gambhir agreed that having two left-arm spin-bowling allrounders would be a surplus,” the report said.
“The second reason is that Jadeja is a key member of India’s Test line-up both home and away, a crucial cog in balancing their XI. India are scheduled to play 10 Tests—five at home and five in Australia—from September 2023 to January 2024, and they are looking to keep Jadeja, who is 35 and has missed a number of matches with injury over the last three years, as fresh as possible for those matches.”
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: India squad for Sri Lanka
Before we move any further, a look at the squads that were announced for the Sri Lanka series which comprises three T20Is and three ODIs
T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
Gautam Gambhir press conference LIVE: What are the big questions for the India coach?
Burning questions for Gautam Gambhir (and Ajit Agarkar):
– Why was Hardik Pandya not appointed T20I captain
– Why Shubman Gill was chosen vice-captain in both formats
– What is Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI future
Gautam Gambhir LIVE: India coach’s first press conference
Gautam Gambhir will field his first press conference as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team in about half an hour’s time. ‘Gauti’ and chief selector Ajit Agarkar have had to make some tough calls for the Sri Lanka series after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is. Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed the captain in the shortest format, ahead of Hardik Pandya. Gambhir is expected to explain that decision and clarify on a number of topics such as Shubman Gill’s promotion as vice-captain in both formats and Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI snub.
Gautam Gambhir will be formally introduced as the head coach of the Indian cricket team on Monday. He and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will address the media in Mumbai before the Indian team’s departure for Sri Lanka, where they will compete in a limited-overs series.
The Indian team are due to play three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka, with the first match slated for July 27 in Pallekele. Media representatives are expected to have numerous questions for Gambhir and Agarkar regarding the team selections, as this will mark Gambhir’s inaugural assignment as head coach.
In a notable decision, Suryakumar Yadav has been chosen to lead the T20I side, with Shubman Gill appointed as vice-captain for both formats. Rohit Sharma, who has retired from T20Is, will continue as captain for the 50-over format, while Virat Kohli, who also retired from T20Is after India’s T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean, remains in the squad.
Noteworthy omissions include Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who were left out of both the ODI and T20I teams, while Ravindra Jadeja, retired from 20-over game, was excluded from the ODI squad.
Gambhir could field questions over his support staff with former South Africa player Morne Morkel expected to join as the bowling coach, and Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant and fielding coaches. However, the BCCI has yet to confirm these potential appointments.
