Advertisement
Advertisement
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his weight behind senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, making it clear that as long as they are performing, their place in the Test side should not be questioned.
Following India’s 3-1 series defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, debates around the future of the veteran duo have resurfaced, particularly with a tough five-Test tour of England on the horizon, starting June 20 at Headingley.
However, Gambhir, speaking to Indian media on Tuesday, made his stance abundantly clear that only performance should be the defining factor in determining a player’s place in the team, not their age.
“As long as they are performing, they deserve to be in the team,” Gautam Gambhir said.
“When a player begins or ends their career should be their own decision. No coach, selector, or even the BCCI should have the authority to decide that. If someone is performing at 40, they can play till 45. Who is stopping them?”
Gambhir, who took over the reins as head coach earlier this year, also reminded critics of Kohli and Rohit’s proven match-winning pedigree, especially in high-pressure tournaments like the Champions Trophy.
He pointed out that players with such experience bring a different level of composure and value to the dressing room, especially in marquee series.
When pressed about squad selection for the England tour, Gautam Gambhir clarified the division of responsibilities, stating that the head coach does not get involved in picking the squad.
“A coach’s job is not to select the team. That responsibility lies with the selectors. My role begins once the squad is final — I focus on selecting the best playing XI for each match,” he added.
READ: Babar Azam crashes out of top 20 as Pakistan players slide in ICC Test rankings
