Senior Indian cricketers have reportedly been hurt and upset by the comments made by former India batsman Gautam Gambhir, who believes that there shouldn’t be any big shock if the senior trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul are dropped from the T20I format.
All three top-order batters are not part of the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting January 3 where Hardik Pandya will lead the side; Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are given rest while Rohit needs more time to recover from his thumb injury, and all three will return for the ODIs.
Gambhir’s comments haven’t gone down well with the Indian players and the BCCI, whose officials have also slammed the “loudmouth” former India batter, as reported by InsideSport.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Gambhir said: “We make too much of a hue and cry when the selectors and management look beyond certain individuals. Ultimately, it’s not about the individuals, but how you want to go about your plans for the next [T20] World Cup [in 2024], because you want to go in there and win it. If these guys haven’t been able to achieve that, I think you never know. People like Suryakumar, the younger generation can go on to achieve that dream.”
InsideSport spoke to some of the Indian cricketers who “clearly showed their displeasure”.
“The rant by Gambhir against team is very disappointing. We respect him for what he did for Indian cricket, at the same time he should respect what we have done,” one top Indian cricketer currently on vacation told InsideSport.
The 2007 and 2011 World Cup winner with the Indian team, Gambhir also went after the BCCI for not clearing the air regarding whether the senior trio is rested or dropped from the Sri Lanka T20Is and for the absence of Rishabh Pant – before his accident – from the squads for the T20Is and ODIs against the Lankans.
In reply, an “irritated” BCCI official slammed Gautam Gambhir, saying he is merely an outsider now.
“He is an outsider currently. He doesn’t know what is happening with-in team’s set-up. So for him to comment on things what he is not privy of is disappointing. He is just an LOUD-MOUTH,” a top BCCI official told Insidesport.
