The BCCI introduced squads for the upcoming limited-overs collection in opposition to Sri Lanka on Wednesday however has not clarified if the senior trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul together with Rishabh Pant has been rested or dropped for white-ball collection beginning January 3.
“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, so be it. I think a lot of countries have done that,” Gambhir informed ESPNcricinfo.
Gambhir needs extra readability on the subject of the standing of particular person gamers and their place within the staff, however did not perceive the fuss about dropping of senior gamers.
“We make too much of a hue and cry when the selectors and management look beyond certain individuals. Ultimately, it’s not about the individuals, but how you want to go about your plans for the next (T20) World Cup (in 2024), because you want to go in there and win it. If these guys haven’t been able to achieve that, I think you never know. People like Suryakumar, the younger generation can go on to achieve that dream,” Gambhir stated.
Gambhir although felt that the comeback of the trio within the shortest format seems to be powerful as of now.
“Personally, if you ask me, it looks tough,” Gambhir stated. “People like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan should all be in the mix. Hardik Pandya is there, I’d like to try to get guys like Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson into the mix. They can play fearless cricket.”
Gambhir additionally took a dig on the “aggressive template” the present staff administration headed by Rahul Dravid wished from the staff as mere lip service.
“We’ve spoken so much about the template and stuff going into the previous (T20) World Cup, that we want to play at a certain template, that we want to play aggressive cricket, but when it came to a crunch game (semi-final against England), all that template went out of the window,” Gambhir stated.
But the previous left-handed batter believes that solely the brand new crop of gamers can obtain this ‘aggressive’ template.
“Probably, the new generation of cricketers might be able to achieve that template and play the T20 cricket everyone wants India to play. So I feel, if these guys continue to do well in the opportunities they get, it will be difficult for the rest of the guys who have been rested or probably been dropped,” Gambhir added.
Gambhir additionally believes that Rishabh Pant, who will report back to NCA within the first week of January for a power and conditioning programme, has been dropped from white-ball cricket for his inconsistency and never rested.
“First of all, the selectors need to be very clear if he’s been rested or dropped,” Gambhir stated. “According to me, he (must have been) dropped from white-ball cricket. There has never been enough clarity. This word called ‘rest’ is great to have; it wasn’t there when we were playing. Either we were dropped or selected.”
Gambhir needs Ishan Kishan to get his justifiable share of alternatives.
“Rishabh has got his opportunities in white-ball cricket and hasn’t been able to grab it, and someone else like Ishan Kishan has been able to grab it. So probably now he should just focus on red-ball cricket, and if his turn comes, whenever he gets that opportunity, try and grab it.”
He would not see Pant making a comeback in T20 fold in close to future.
“I don’t see that happening in the near future, if Ishan continues to play the way he’s playing. Because we keep talking about that template, but people like Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav — that template comes to them naturally.”
(With inputs from PTI)