Gautam Gambhir On Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli | Image:AP
India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday said that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are struggling with poor form, have the desire to excel but he urged all the senior players, including these two, to prove their commitment to Test cricket by playing domestic cricket. Did .
The outspoken Gambhir, who has won the World Cup twice, also did not give any assurance about whether Rohit or Kohli will be a part of the Test team in future or not. India won 1 against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. With the 3-match defeat, the chance to play the final of the World Test Championship was also lost.
Gambhir said in the press conference after the match, “Now is not the time to talk about where we will be after five months.” A lot changes in the game. Form changes, people change, attitude changes, everything changes. We know five months is a long time.
He said, “We will see what happens during the series against England (in July). But whatever happens, it will be in the best interest of Indian cricket.” Rohit scored 31 runs in five innings before being ruled out of the last Test due to poor form while Kohli could only score 190 runs in nine innings. Kohli was out after being caught in the slips eight times.
When asked if he wanted the senior players to play at least one round in the Ranji Trophy starting January 23, he clearly said, “I always want everyone to play domestic cricket. Domestic cricket should get this much attention. Not just one match, everyone should play domestic cricket if they are available and committed to Test cricket.
He said, “If you do not give importance to domestic cricket, then you will never produce the required players for Test cricket.” Kohli last played in 2012 and Rohit in 2015. Played Ranji Trophy in 16.
Refusing to be part of speculations about the future of Rohit and Kohli, he said that both of them will decide what is best for Indian cricket.
He said, “I can’t talk about any player’s future.” It is for them to decide but all I can say is that they still have the hunger, the passion. He is a determined person and hopefully will continue to take Indian cricket forward. Whatever they decide, it will be in the best interest of Indian cricket.
He said, “Every player knows how hungry he is for his game and good performance.” This is most important in any sport or profession. How much you want to excel or how much passion you have within you and whether your contribution is going to take the team forward or not.
Gambhir said that it is his responsibility to treat all players equally irrespective of their stature and experience. He said, “If I am honest towards two or three and not towards others, then I am not honest towards my work.” He said, “So if a player has not made his debut or has not played a hundred Test games, It’s over, my job is to treat everyone equally.”
Gambhir said, “If you are doing your work honestly then everything will be fine.” To keep the dressing room happy I have to be honest and fair to everyone. Indian captain Rohit had kept himself out of the fifth Test due to poor form, which Gambhir praised.
He said, “If the captain has taken a decision then no one should face any problem.” We talked about accountability and it starts at the top. Rohit Sharma started it in the last match.” When asked whether he accepts the mistakes made on this tour, Gambhir said, ”First of all, this person sitting here will be the first to accept the mistakes. So don’t worry that mistakes will not be accepted here.
