Did rohit sharma and Ajit Agarkar snub gautam Gambhir's alternatives at Champions Trophy selection assembly?
The Champions Trophy group choice press conference turned into scheduled at 12.30 pm on Saturday. when finally chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain rohit sharma took their seats on the media centre at Wankhede, it became near to 3 pm.
Over a span of nearly three decades, this correspondent was in no way been to a team choice press convention that started out on time. however even through the bcci requirements, the put off changed into uncommon.
on the presser, Agarkar became asked about the motive for the delay. He spoke approximately how the selectors were discussing and searching for clarifications over some fitness issues. as the put up-selection assembly leaks might suggest, there was more to it.
rohit sharma vs hardik Pandya: india captain takes on star all-rounder beforehand of england ODIs and Champions Trophy 2025
it's raining leaks in indian cricket for the time being and the modern-day being the leader selector, plus the skipper, in confrontation with head educate gautam gambhir over more than one calls. In truth, in keeping with reviews, the put off turned into no longer because of the reality that the selection committee changed into trying to get an update on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness status. alternatively, it become about whether to call Shubman Gill as Rohit's deputy in India's Champions Trophy squad.
in step with a bcci supply, Gambhir desired hardik pandya as vice-captain. but Gill become the desired choice of each Agarkar and Rohit. Pandya has led the indian ODI group within the beyond. He changed into Rohit's deputy on the 2023 ODI global Cup before an ankle harm dominated him out of the match. Of late, but, the all-rounder has fallen out of favour as a ways as management is concerned. After the t20 international Cup last 12 months, suryakumar yadav turned into appointed as India's T20I captain. In the upcoming T20I collection towards england, Axar patel was made Surya's deputy as opposed to Pandya.
almost about Gill, he turned into the indian team's vice-captain inside the ODI series in sri lanka ultimate yr. And although the 25-12 months-old became criticised for his performances within the take a look at collection in australia, white-ball cricket is a completely exceptional element and the teenager boasts an ODI common of 58.20 over forty seven games. he is a management investment for the destiny.
Coming to Sanju, Gambhir has constantly been a huge-backer of the kerala wicketkeeper-batsman. also, Sanju has been a revelation in t20 cricket after being given a clear function of opening the innings. the pinnacle teach reportedly desired him inside the ODI set-up as well. however Agarkar and Rohit backed rishabh Pant.
In 2023, when pant turned into recuperating from a horror vehicle twist of fate, KL rahul cemented his region as a wicketkeeper-batsman in the ODI group. Even after pant lower back to the fold in sri lanka final yr, rahul remained the team management's first-desire in that position. meanwhile, Sanju falling out with the kerala cricket affiliation and not gambling the vijay hazare Trophy failed to help his cause. additionally, basically in phrases of cricket qualities, in a directly contest with pant, he loses out.
The southpaw hasn't yet replicated his take a look at exploits in the shorter codecs. however he consists of a positive X-element. What he can do as a batsman on his day, others can not. His half of-century on a very tough SCG pitch in the second of the fifth take a look at against australia served because the cutting-edge instance of Pant's unique potential. And he is a higher wicketkeeper than Sanju.
At the press conference the previous day, Rohit became requested approximately his equation with Gambhir, and he stated: "each of us are very clear on what we desired to do. i'm no longer going to take a seat right here and discuss what goes (on) behind the scenes."
He added: "The fundamental communicate that occurs is simplest off the field; at the ground or maybe in the changing room. as soon as we take the sector, it is all approximately what I do on the sector. that is the type of trust we've got in each other. it is the way it ought to be. this is about it."
The Champions Trophy is going to be highly crucial for india, and even if there are problems, Rohit and Gambhir want to return collectively to make sure a a hit campaign.
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