Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar’s recent press conference marked a significant moment for Indian cricket as Gambhir took on the head coach role. The duo discussed pressing topics like team dynamics and player selections, setting the tone for the Sri Lanka tour.
Questions asked to Gambhir and Agarkar in press conference
Q: What is your coaching mantra and approach to the dressing room?
Gambhir: “I think it’s important to give players freedom. The best relationship is built on trust. I can promise the players that they will always have my back. A happy dressing room is a winning dressing room. That’s my responsibility alongside the support staff.”
Q: How do you view your relationship with Virat Kohli?
Gambhir: “What kind of relationship with Virat Kohli is not for TRP. At the moment, we are representing India, 140 crore Indians. We have an excellent relationship off the field, but it’s not for the public. He is a thorough professional, a world class athlete, and hopefully he will continue that way.”
Q: What is the roadmap for senior players like Kohli and Rohit?
Gambhir: “They have shown what they can deliver on the big stage. They have a lot of cricket left in them. The Champions Trophy is coming up and a big tour of Australia, they will be motivated. Hopefully, if they can keep their fitness, the 2027 World Cup is there.”
Q: Why was Suryakumar Yadav appointed T20I captain over Hardik Pandya?
Agarkar: “We want a captain who can play all games. Surya has the qualities needed to succeed. Fitness has been a challenge for Hardik. We have time till the next T20 World Cup. We want someone likely to be available more often than not.”
Q: How will you manage the return of injured players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul?
Agarkar: “Rishabh has been out for a long time. We want to bring him back without burdening him. KL has been told to hit the reset button.”
Q: Why was Ravindra Jadeja not included in the ODI squad?
Ajit Agarkar clarified that Jadeja’s absence was not due to being dropped but rather a strategic decision based on the team’s composition. With Axar Patel already in the lineup, including both spinners was not feasible for every match.
Gambhir emphasized that Jadeja remains a vital player for the team. He mentioned, “Hopefully, we can do well in 10 Test matches, and someone like Ravindra Jadeja is very important in those games.”