Coach Gautam Gambhir will do well to speak more carefully
Trust Gautam Gambhir to speak frankly, even if the words are not measured. After India defeated the infamous West Indies 2-0 in the Test series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, coach Gambhir, celebrating his 44th birthday, came prepared to face the media. He had his moment of glory as well, since new Test skipper Shubman Gill was tasting success for the first time at home. He had done well to draw the series 2-2 in England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in the summer but a triumph at home in a Test series is significant.
Gambhir spoke on the Test win, even though the way the bowlers struggling in the second innings was not one had expected. Looking ahead at the ODI series against Australia, beginning soon, Gambhir touched upon an important topic, how Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will need to do well. It is well-known, the two former captains have got into the ODI side purely as players, based on pedigree and the ability to score in a format they had enjoyed. After all, memories from the Champions Trophy in Dubai earlier this year is fresh.
Kohli flew into New Delhi from London on Tuesday, and will be ready to tour Australia, a country which has seen him produce classic knocks. Gambhir did praise the two former captains, but where he needed to have measured his words was in not talking about the next ICC ODI World Cup being two and a half years away. We are already in the tenth month of October, almost at mid-point. The 2027 World Cup is less than two years away. To suggest Kohli and Rohit will not be fit at that time is presumptuous.
The two are working hard on staying fit. Kohli is still considered to be passionate about fitness, something which has come in for praise from former spin king Harbhajan Singh. In contrast, Rohit Sharma has lost eight kilos and looks hungry while batting. He has been hitting the ball out of the park at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana in Mumbai, trying to get his timing right. Those who have watched Hitman say he is ready to roar.
It is an important ODI series, since Australia have been strong at home. How does one also forget, it was exactly 23 months back, India lost the ICC ODI World Cup final to the Aussies in Ahmedabad. For the Aussies, the next few months are important as well. In addition to the ODI series, they will also be challenging England in the high-profile Ashes.
More on Gambhir, he did not need to react on Harshit Rana and what social media posts are saying about him. For the coach to take a swipe at R.Ashwin, who had been caustic in his YouTube show, was but natural. If Ashwin says something, it is his personal viewpoint. Plus, he is no longer part of the Indian cricket set-up, having opted for the Big Bash League, with Sydney as his chosen team.
Ashwin and many more have been critical of Harshit Rana being a part of all three formats. If the selectors have faith in him, he needs to prove himself. The coach’s job is not to take on YouTubers, notably a former cricketer who has done well for India. Hopefully, Gambhir will also learn his lessons in Indian cricket as a coach.
