Tag: GAUTAM Gambhir

Rohit’s goal is to ensure that there are enough ready replacements, especially in the event of injuries, to keep the team competitive and prepared…reports Asian Lite News

As India gears up for their three-match Test series against New Zealand, captain Rohit Sharma has made it clear that building a deep and reliable bench strength, particularly in the fast-bowling department, is a top priority.

Speaking on the eve of the first Test in Bengaluru, Rohit emphasized the importance of creating a pool of eight or nine fast bowlers who can step into the playing XI at any moment.

“We want to create a bench strength where tomorrow, if anything happens to anyone, we are not worried or too heavily reliant on a few individuals. That’s not the right thing to do,” Rohit said, pointing to the need for India to move beyond relying on just a few key individuals.

His goal is to ensure that there are enough ready replacements, especially in the event of injuries, to keep the team competitive and prepared.

“We want to create guys where even if there are injuries, we have got someone to quickly step in and take that role.

“It’s not about three or four options. We want to try and do that like, you know, when it comes to batting, there are a lot of options. We want to create the same with the bowlers as well.”

India’s 15-member squad for the New Zealand series has been bolstered with traveling reserves Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Rohit explained that these young fast bowlers are being closely monitored to assess their potential for future tours, including the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, starting on November 22.

“You know, the reason we wanted to keep them close to us was because we are thinking of them to take them to Australia,” Rohit said. The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22. “We just want to monitor them and see their workload. We have seen some talent in them. I understand that they have not played a lot of red-ball cricket, but when you see a talent, you want to try and groom them.

“You want to try and bring them as close to the team as possible. And in a short period of time, they have shown they have some ability as well. So, we want to keep them with the team and see whether they will be ready for international cricket or not, especially Test cricket, because Test cricket is a different ball game compared to white ball cricket. So, we want to keep them, we want to see what they can offer us, and have more options with us, more than anything else.

“Nitish and Harshit both obviously are quite talented individuals, and in the future obviously they are going to provide a lot of stability to the team. So, just want to see what they are capable of, what they have to offer.”

Mayank Yadav, in particular, has caught the attention of Indian selectors with his blistering pace, reaching speeds of 155kph during IPL 2024. However, with his history of injuries, Rohit stressed the importance of managing his workload carefully.

“Mayank obviously has shown what he can do, but we just want to be very careful with him, he has had a lot of injuries in the past,” Rohit said. “So, we want to progress him, not rapidly, we want to just see every day how he feels.

“We are trying to build his workloads with the red ball. He has not played a lot of red-ball cricket at all. So, for us, it’s important that we try and build them gradually, rather than just getting them into international cricket straight away.

Rohit also acknowledged the differences between white-ball and red-ball cricket, explaining that while formats like T20 allow a quick glimpse into a player’s talent, Test cricket demands stamina and endurance over five days. India’s approach, he said, will be to groom these emerging talents gradually, preparing them for the rigors of international Test cricket.

The first Test, however, faces potential disruption from rain, with relentless showers in Bengaluru forcing the Indian team to cancel their final training session. Rohit remained non-committal about the playing XI, stating that the decision would be based on pitch conditions and weather on match day.

“It all depends on the conditions now. Even today, there has been a lot of rain. The pitch is under the covers. So, we want to take that call when we come here in the morning tomorrow,” Rohit said. “And again, it depends on match-to-match, what sort of pitch we play on. Based on that, we want to decide what is going to be our best playing XI. We keep our options open for playing three seamers and three spinners as well.”

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While Gambhir acknowledged that there will always be disagreements in strategy or decision-making, he firmly believes that the final call should rest with Rohit…reports Asian Lite News

With the India-Bangladesh two-match Test series set to commence on Thursday, Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed Head Coach of Team India opened up about the bond with captain Rohit Sharma.

For Gambhir, the captain is central to a team’s success, and while the coach plays an important role, the ultimate responsibility lies with the leader on the field.

Rohit’s leadership qualities, Gambhir believes, have earned him immense respect in the dressing room—an essential trait for any successful leader.

“The team ultimately belongs to the captain because he leads on the field,” Gambhir told JioCinema. “Rohit’s leadership and respect in the dressing room are crucial. So, he’s a great guy and has got a lot of respect in that dressing room and that is the first and foremost quality of a leader. I think my relationship with him when we were playing together was fabulous. Even then he was a great human being and hopefully, I think it continues that way as well.”

While Gambhir acknowledged that there will always be disagreements in strategy or decision-making, he firmly believes that the final call should rest with Rohit. For Gambhir, respect and support for the captain are non-negotiable. “There will be disagreements, but the final decision rests with the captain,” he emphasised.

Gambhir also opened up about his coaching philosophy, his close relationships with senior players, and how his transition from player to mentor and now head coach has shaped his approach. Having shared the field with many of the team’s current senior players, Gambhir’s familiarity with their personalities and careers has, in his own words, made his role slightly easier.

“Yes, it does help to an extent,” he acknowledged. Gambhir reflected on his past playing days with key figures like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah, each of whom he watched grow into pillars of Indian cricket.

For Gambhir, this history fosters a sense of ease and understanding. “Rohit was backed despite not having a stellar start, and now he’s a key player. Virat has transformed Indian cricket, along with his fitness culture. Ashwin remains dedicated to being the best spinner in the world, and Bumrah has risen to the top of world bowling. Their experiences will be very useful for the younger generation,” Gambhir noted.

Gambhir is well aware of the challenges that come with selecting a playing eleven from a pool of immense talent. With India’s deep bench strength, it’s never easy to leave players out of the squad. However, Gambhir believes that the focus should be on selecting the right combination to meet the team’s needs rather than framing it as dropping players.

“Selecting just eleven players means others have to wait for their opportunity,” he explained. But for Gambhir, the solution lies in clear and straightforward communication with the players. “It’s about selecting those who can best serve the team’s needs,” he said, stressing the importance of the coach, captain, and selectors being on the same page to avoid confusion or mixed messages.

This communication becomes even more critical when players are left out or dropped from the squad, a situation that Gambhir understands can be challenging for any player. “Understanding the vulnerability of players who are left out or dropped, we aim to provide the right support and communication to help them through the process,” he added.

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