"He doesn't select, only rejects": Gautam Gambhir under fire for comments on Iyer's Test snub

The announcement of India’s squad for the England Tour was bound to make waves. It was the time for a new captain to come forth, India's official entry into a new Test era after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While the appointment of Shubman Gill as India's new Test captain was an entire discussion of its own, the management's selection choices were also questioned. Despite consistently performing across the domestic season for Mumbai, Shreyas Iyer didn't make it into the squad. Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan walked in, as the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Shreyas Iyer remained absent. While Sarfaraz was tasked to join the India A squad for the preceding England Tour ahead of the India vs England series, Iyer didn't get a chance even there.

Atul Wassan takes a dig at Gautam Gambhir as the Indian head coach dismisses Shreyas Iyer's Test snub

The latest take of Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir on the matter has reignited the debate. To believe that a crucial figure like a head coach won't have a say in the selection process of a Test squad is a far-fetched reality. Upon being questioned on selection choices, one would expect a coach to talk about team combination, available spots, and the hard task to opt from an equally skilled lot. However, Gambhir has never been the one to comply with the set expectations. His bold and staunch comebacks seems like an attack on the questions rather than an answer to any query, more often than not.

Recently, Gautam Gambhir was asked about excluding Shreyas Iyer from the selection process for the India squad for the India vs England series. The head coach went on to say that he is not a selector. The squad was announced by the BCCI chief selector, Ajit Agarkar. At the time of the squad announcement, Agarkar had deflected the question with a simple, "We don't have any room for Shreyas in the squad right now."

Under Gautam Gambhir, India picked up the coveted ICC Champions Trophy title earlier this year. However, the former Indian batsman is yet to prove his credentials in red-ball cricket. India's whitewash against New Zealand at home, the team's loss in the BGT for the first time in a decade, and the subsequent ouster from the WTC Final, it all transpired under the watch of Gambhir. Moreover, the discussion around the rather abrupt retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also centers around Gambhir's tenure in the leading position.

Now, his rather casual take on the snub of Shreyas Iyer has landed Gambhir under fire. Former India cricketer Atul Wassan took a dig at the Indian head coach. Wassan clarified that a coach certainly has a say in the selection process. Meanwhile, he further elaborated that if Gambhir has been handed the choice to make the calls, he's free to go with his instincts, whether they prove right or wrong in the course ahead.

"He doesn't select; he only rejects," Wassan started off.

"The coach has a role in team selection, and selectors also listen to them before naming the squad. If he (Gautam Gambhir) has been given this position, then I think he deserves to go with his feeling, whether it's right or wrong," he further elaborated.