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'It's Not About Dropping Someone,': Indian Head Coach Gautam Gambhir Dismisses Playing XI Controversy

Gautam Gambhir addresses the ongoing debate [Source: @Vishal_aawaj/X.com]Gautam Gambhir addresses the ongoing debate [Source: @Vishal_aawaj/X.com]

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, recently addressed the ongoing debate on player selection, offering insights into his inclusive approach. As a former player and now a coach, Gambhir has set a tone that aims to foster a supportive environment for both established cricketers and emerging talents, ensuring the right balance in the team.

In a recent conversation with Jio Cinema, Gambhir shared that he focuses more on including players rather than leaving them out. With experienced players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant returning to the team, there's been a lot of talk about how this affects younger players like Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who did well when the senior players were away.

He expressed his belief that every player will get their chance, but those selected must be ready to deliver when called upon.

"It will always be a challenge because there is so much (in Indian cricket) and ultimately, you can only select XI. But if you can select an XI, it can do the job for you (that's all that matters). And I have been a firm believer that we don't drop anyone. We select anyone. So there's a way of looking at things," Gambhir told Jio Cinema.

Indian cricket is known for its vast talent pool, making selection a complicated process. Gambhir acknowledged this and stressed that there will always be players waiting for opportunities, but that’s the nature of the sport.

"A lot of people from outside might think that he's been dropped, but it's not about dropping someone. It's about selecting someone else to do the job for the team. If the other person can do the job for the team, then people will have to wait for their opportunities. That's how cricket goes. Sometimes, you have to wait for a much longer period of time than you should. Once you get the opportunity, you should be absolutely ready to grab it," he added.

Gambhir's Tenure As Head Coach

After taking over from Rahul Dravid, Gambhir has faced both ups and downs. He started strong by leading India to a clean sweep in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in August 2024. However, the ODI series that followed was more challenging. The current Test series against Bangladesh got off to a good start, with India winning the first match in Chennai.