India national cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir had an unusually dramatic moment at the press conference following the team’s 2-0 Test series win over the West Indies on Tuesday (October 14). India defeated West Indies by 7 wickets in the second test to clean sweep the series 2-0.
For the past few weeks, apart from the team selection drama for the West Indies series and the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, there has been a big debate over India’s ODI captaincy after Shubman Gill was promoted in place of Rohit Sharma.
Gautam Gambhir hints at mental fatigue while addressing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s ODI future
But the ODI future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remains a hot topic of debate among former cricketers. And even after India’s 2-0 Test series win over West Indies, Gautam Gambhir faced his first question about the future of Kohli and Rohit at the ICC World Cup 2027.
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In a humorous moment, the Indian head coach joked about needing a mental conditioning coach for himself when he was asked if he would appoint a professional to replace Shubman Gill after burdening the youngster with the ODI captaincy despite India’s hectic schedule across all formats.
“First of all, I need one,” Gautam Gambhir said in the post-match press conference.
Experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be invaluable: Gautam Gambhir
On a serious note, Gambhir made it clear that Kohli and Rohit will remain the key players for India. His experience and skills will be vital for the team, but the ICC World Cup 2027 is still more than two years away. Therefore, the coach has stressed the importance of keeping the focus on the present.
He said, “They are quality players, and their experience will be invaluable. The 2027 World Cup is still 2.5 years away, so it is important to remain focused on the present. Both Kohli and Rohit are exceptional players, and their return will be a big boost. Hopefully they have a successful tour and more importantly, the team puts in a strong series performance in Australia.”
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On the pressure of team selection, Gautam Gambhir said, leaving out players is emotional.
Meanwhile, the Indian head coach also talked about the challenges of team selection. Leaving players out is never easy and Gambhir admitted that it takes an emotional toll. The former Indian opener further stressed that the selection is not just about runs and wickets but also considers the player’s character, work ethic and hunger to perform.
Gambhir said, “Apart from runs and wickets, you look at the work ethic, character and their hunger and what they bring to the table. International cricket is a very insecure environment. It is important to pick the right people and give them a chance for a long time rather than changing and replacing them. I get emotional when I leave players out. I don’t like to be unkind; I don’t like the word “dropped”. Players get selected, but some have to be dropped. Is.”
Notably, the Indian cricket team will now travel to Australia for a three-match ODI and T20 series starting in Perth from October 19. Shubman Gill will make his ODI captaincy debut in the ODI series, where both Rohit and Virat will make their much-awaited return in national colours.
