Gambhir wanted new faces for next WTC cycle, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's fate was sealed after Australia tour: Report
As per a report, head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted fresh faces for the next WTC cycle and as a result, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's fate was sealed.
Virat Kohli, the biggest superstar in the current Indian cricket setup, decided to call time on his Test career on Monday as he announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. The 36-year-old's decision comes days after Rohit Sharma's announcement of stepping away from Tests. The duo had a disastrous tour of Australia, where India lost 1-3. Runs were hard to come by for both, and ever since the tour came to an end, there was chatter of the management wanting to look past the duo and go in with fresh faces for the five-match series against England.
As per a report by news agency PTI, India head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted fresh faces for the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle beginning with the upcoming five-match series against England. As a result, the fate of Rohit and Virat was sealed after the disastrous tour of Australia.
Under Gautam Gambhir, India lost back-to-back series against New Zealand (home) and Australia (away), resulting in India not making the WTC final for the very first time.
With Rohit, Virat and Ravichandran Ashwin gone, there aren't many superstars left inside the Indian dressing room, and Gambhir might just gain full control. He might very well become the first India head coach who could have more power than the skipper. The same PTI report states that Gambhir's biggest objective is to remove the star culture within the team.
Gambhir also got the support of Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, as the duo saw fit to have fresh faces for the England tour and the next WTC cycle.
"The Gautam Gambhir era begins now. He was categorical that during the next WTC cycle, India need to have fresh faces," PTI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
"Everyone associated with decision-making knew where Gambhir stood in terms of carrying seniors in the longest format. Obviously, his and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar's thoughts aligned," the source added.
Shubman Gill frontrunner to be the next captain
Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to be the next India Test captain. Jasprit Bumrah led the side in Rohit Sharma's absence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But looking at his workload management, it is unlikely that the pacer will be given a leadership role in the coming future.
The report also states that Gambhir wanted the Indian cricket board to empower him so that there is no debacle like the New Zealand series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
However, all is easier said than done. The results now need to come by for Gambhir. If the series against England goes south, questions will arise regarding the former India opener's ability to manage the Test team.
The series might just be make or break for Gambhir in terms of being the red-ball coach. The side is expected to have a lot of youngsters and it needs to be seen who fills the space of Rohit and Kohli in the playing XI.
