The BCCI on Wednesday announced the squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka but did not specify whether the senior trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul would be included. Rishabh Pant Has been rested or dropped for the white-ball series starting January 3.
Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo, “There should be clarity. There should be good communication between the selectors and these players. If the selectors have decided to look beyond these guys, that’s fine. I think a lot of countries have done that.” “
Gambhir wants more clarity when it comes to the status of individual players and their place in the team, but could not understand the hue and cry about the ousting of senior players.
“When the selectors and management look beyond a few individuals, we create a lot of hue and cry. Ultimately, it’s not about the individuals, but how do you go about your plans for the next (T20) World Cup (in 2024) want to go.” Because you want to go out there and win it. If these guys haven’t been able to achieve it, I guess you’ll never know. People like Suryakumar, the younger generation can achieve that dream,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir, however, feels that the comeback of this trio in the shortest format is looking difficult at the moment.
“Personally, if you ask me, it seems difficult,” Gambhir said. “people like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan All should be in the mix. Hardik is Pandya, I want to try to make people like Prithvi ShawRahul Tripathi and sanju samson in the mix. They can play fearless cricket.”
Gambhir also took a dig at the “aggressive template” led by the current team management Rahul Dravid Wanted from the team only as lip service.
“We’ve said a lot in the last (T20) World Cups about the template and stuff going on, that we want to play to a certain template, that we want to play attacking cricket, but when it comes to the crunch game (semi) When it comes to the final (against England), that whole template went out the window,” Gambhir said.
But the former left-hander believes that only the new crop of players can achieve this ‘aggressive’ template.
“Perhaps, the new generation of cricketers might be able to achieve that template and play T20 cricket, everyone wants India to play. So I think, if these guys continue to perform well in the opportunities they get , then it will be difficult for the rest of the people.” Of those who have been rested or maybe dropped,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir also believes that Rishabh Pant, who will report to the NCA in the first week of January for a strength and conditioning programme, has been dropped from white-ball cricket for his inconsistency and not rested has gone.
“First of all, the selectors should be clear whether he has been rested or dropped,” Gambhir said. “According to me, he (should) have been dropped from white-ball cricket. There has never been enough clarity. That word called ‘rest’ is very nice, it was not there when we were playing. Either we was removed.” or selected.”
Gambhir wants Ishaan Kishan to get his fair share of chances.
“Rishabh has got opportunities in white-ball cricket and he hasn’t been able to grab it, and someone else like Ishan Kishan has been able to grab it. So maybe now he should just focus on red-ball cricket, and if it’s his turn Whenever he gets that opportunity, try and take advantage of it.”
He does not see Pant making a comeback in T20s in the near future.
“I don’t see that happening in the near future, if Ishan continues to play the way he has been playing. Because we keep talking about that template, but Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav People like that — that blueprint comes naturally to them.” ,
(With inputs from PTI)