Sports Desk: Despite India’s 2-1 T20I series victory over Australia, head coach Gautam Gambhir faced criticism over a few of his team selections, notably the inclusion of Harshit Rana in the first two matches and the limited use of Sanju Samson, who played only one game.
Following the series, Gambhir acknowledged the emotional challenge of leaving out deserving players. Speaking in a BCCI video, he said, “That is the toughest part for me as a coach. When I know there is so much quality sitting on the bench, it’s painful because everyone deserves to be part of the XI. But ultimately, you can only pick 11, keeping the best combination in mind.”
He emphasized the importance of transparency, adding, “Communication needs to be very clear and honest. Telling someone he’s not playing is probably the toughest conversation for both the coach and the player.”
Also Read: Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Amritpal Singh’s Plea Against NSA Detention
India’s dominance in the format continues, as they remain unbeaten in their last eight T20I series, including the Asia Cup triumph. Rising star Abhishek Sharma further etched his name in the record books, becoming the fastest player to reach 1,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced — achieving the milestone in 528 deliveries, surpassing Suryakumar Yadav’s record of 573 balls.
India will now shift focus to the upcoming Test series against South Africa at Eden Gardens, where team selection debates are likely to continue.
