Gargi Raut at the SCG
The Indian cricket fraternity was abuzz on Wednesday morning with reports of rifts in the dressing room, sparking widespread speculation about unrest within the team. With just a day to go before the final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, anticipation ran high over who would address the media. After much waiting, the Indian head coach entered the press conference room, setting the tone with a striking opening statement.
“Everything is under control,” said Gautam Gambhir. “Being in Sydney with an opportunity to draw the series is a good position to be in. If our batting and bowling hadn’t done well, we wouldn’t have been 2-1 in the series. It could’ve been worse.”
Gambhir was asked about the youngsters in the team, their dismissals following a similar pattern, and how the management was addressing the issues. “All individuals know what they need to do,” said Gambhir. “I won’t talk about individuals. You win as a team, you lose as a team. The debates between a player and a coach should stay between them. The conversations in the dressing room should stay there.”
One of the most interesting aspects of the press conference was the fact that when asked about the playing XI, specifically about Rohit Sharma’s place in the team, Gambhir refused to deny or confirm anything.
“We will look at the wicket and then announce the playing XI tomorrow,” he said. “What about Rohit?” interjected a reporter. “The answer remains the same,” said Gambhir sternly.
With respect to the reports of rifts in the dressing room, Gambhir was also asked about the conversations that he has had with the team. “The only conversation we’re having is about how we need to win the next match,” he said. “There has been no other conversation.”
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He also confirmed that there was one forced change to the playing XI. “Akash Deep is out, he’s got a back issue,” said Gambhir. “That’s the only injury concern.”
During the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah emphasised that the Indian team was currently in a “transitional” phase. Gambhir was also questioned about the team’s approach to “phasing out the seniors” in the near future.
“Indian cricket will always be in safe hands, till the time you’ve got honest people in the room and honesty is the most important thing for any transition,” he said. “It is not about phasing out the senior players or getting the younger ones in. Ultimately, the only thing that can keep you in the dressing room is performance.
“The kind of talent there is in Indian cricket, we will always be in safe hands. There’ll be times when we don’t get results, there’ll be times where we’ll have to be patient. Rather than only criticising the young players, we’ve got to give them time to step up as well. Transition is not just for them, but also for the entire country.
“When transitions have happened in the past, it was one department carrying the team forward, but this time around, the transition will happen in both the departments.”
After a series of unusual dismissals in the Melbourne Test reignited the debate over ‘natural game vs responsibility’, Gambhir underscored the players’ commitment to a ‘team-first’ approach.
“There is only one tendency and discussion, it’s a ‘team-first’ ideology,” he said. “You need to do what the team needs you to do. People can play their natural game but still, in a team sport, individuals only contribute.
“I don’t want to talk about individuals. Everyone needs to do what the team needs them to do. Whether it is about batting out entire sessions or taking on an aggressive approach.”
Heading into the fifth Test match with the series, and World Test Championship final hopes, still alive, Gambhir had full faith in the team’s ability to win the final game. “I’m extremely confident,” he said. “We’ve got the skill set, we’ve got the individuals, we’ve got everything in the dressing room that can win the match. We can go on to do some unbelievable things in the future as well.”
As for the controversy in the build-up to the match, Gambhir stated: “Those are just reports, that’s not the truth. I don’t think I need to answer to any reports. Honesty is very important if we want to go on and achieve great things.”
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