2024-07-19 04:20:21
Finally, Gautam Gambhir has selected his first team after taking over as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Team India was announced on the night of July 18 for the T20 and then ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on July 27. Gautam Gambhir’s influence was visible in the team selection. As soon as he came, he removed Hardik Pandya from captaincy and made Suryakumar the new captain, while it seemed that Pandya would be the captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement. ODI captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have kept themselves available for the 50-over series against the same team next month. Let’s take a look at the four big things about this team selection…
Hardik’s leadership was ended
Gautam Gambhir’s faith in Suryakumar Yadav is not surprising, but the worrying thing is that Hardik Pandya has been excluded from any kind of leadership role. Pandya, who was the vice-captain of the T20 World Champion team, has now been removed and Shubman Gill has been made the vice-captain in both white ball formats. Pandya was also the vice-captain in the 50-over World Cup in 2023 before getting injured and with Shubman Gill being appointed as the vice-captain in both formats, it is now clear that the selection committee and especially Gambhir want to prepare Gill as the next captain of India in all formats from now on.
Big promotion for Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, who was not even a part of the squad in the T20 World Cup that ended last month, was suddenly made the vice-captain of the team. It seems that Gambhir has his eyes set on the 2027 World Cup and his vote is with Gill as the future captain. With Rohit being 37 and Suryakumar being 33, Gambhir wants to prepare new leadership from now on.
Abhishek, Kuldeep and Gaikwad out
Kuldeep Yadav, who played a key role in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win, was dropped from the T20 squad. Kuldeep’s workload management could be a big reason behind this as he has found a place in the ODI squad. Gambhir has expressed confidence in young Ravi Bishnoi, his teammate at Lucknow Super Giants. Abhishek Sharma, who scored a 46-ball century in T20 on the Zimbabwe tour, could not make it to the team as there is no place for him at number three, where the captain himself will bat. Similarly, Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also did not find a place in the team. Riyan Parag has been included in both squads.
Gambhir’s back support to two KKR stars
Shreyas Iyer, who came under the BCCI’s radar by not playing the red ball format, is now out of exile. This is Iyer’s first comeback to the national team after being dropped from the central contract. Gambhir’s trust in Shreyas Iyer is also not surprising, as the two together led KKR to their third IPL title in 2024. Delhi fast bowlers Harshit Rana (ODI) and Rinku Singh (T20), who played a key role in making KKR the champion, are also part of Gambhir’s first Indian team.