BCCI announced the squads for the upcoming limited series against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, but did not say whether the senior trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul with Rishabh Pants was rested or waived for white-ball series beginning Jan. 3.
“There should be clarity. There should be good communication between the coaches and these players. If the coaches decided to look beyond these guys, so be it. I think a lot of countries have. “, Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo.
Gambhir wants more clarity regarding the status of individual players and their place in the squad, but hasn’t understood the fuss over the withdrawal of senior players.
“We make too much noise when selectors and management look beyond certain individuals. At the end of the day, it’s not about individuals, but about how you want to organize your plans for the next (T20 ) World Cup (in 2024), because you want to go there and win. If these guys weren’t able to make it, I guess you never know. People like Suryakumar, the young generation can continue to achieve this dream,” said Gambhir.
Gambhir, however, felt that the trio’s return to the shorter format is shaping up to be difficult at the moment.
“Personally, if you ask me, it seems difficult,” Gambhir said. “People like Suryakumar Yadav, Ichan Kishan should all be in the mix. Hardik Pandya is here, I would like to try to have guys like Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson in the mix. They can play cricket without fear.”
Gambhir also dwelt on the ‘aggressive model’ that the current management of the team led by Rahul Dravid wanted from the team for mere talk.
“We’ve talked so much about the pattern and elements of the previous World Cup (T20), that we want to play in a certain pattern, that we want to play aggressive cricket, but when it comes to a crunch game ( semi-final against England), that whole pattern went out the window,” Gambhir said.
But the former left-handed hitter believes only the new generation of players can achieve that “aggressive” model.
“Probably the new generation of cricketers might be able to reach that model and play the T20 cricket that everyone wants India to play. So I think if these guys continue to do well in the opportunities whatever they get, it’s going to be tough for the rest of the guys who have been rested or probably dropped out,” Gambhir added.
Gambhir also believes Rishabh Pant, who will report to the NCA in the first week of January for a strength and conditioning programme, was pulled from white-ball cricket for his inconsistency and failed to rest.
“First of all, the coaches need to be very clear if he was rested or dropped,” Gambhir said. “In my opinion he (must have been) taken out of white-ball cricket. There was never enough clarity. That word called ‘rest’ is great to have; he wasn’t around when we were playing. Either we have been dropped or selected.”
Gambhir wants Ishan Kishan to get his fair share of opportunities.
“Rishabh had his opportunities in white ball cricket and was unable to take them, and someone else like Ishan Kishan was able to take them. So probably now he should just focus on the red-ball cricket, and if his turn comes, whenever he gets the chance, try to seize it.”
He doesn’t see Pant returning to the T20 in the near future.
“I don’t see that happening in the near future, if Ishan continues to play the way he plays. Because we keep talking about that pattern, but people like Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav — that pattern comes naturally to them. .”
(With PTI entries)
