A new era in Indian cricket gets underway today as the Men in Blue, under new head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, boarded the flight to Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs.
There were enough sneak peeks into what to expect under the new coach when the men’s senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, announced the two squads and named a new captain and vice-captain.
Since the July 18 announcement, the new-look leadership group has been the talk of the town, and it was no surprise that the first question addressed to Agarkar was centred around the same. The chairman patiently explained the decision to give the reigns to Suryakumar and why having a fit and available captain was the need of the hour.
“You want a captain that is likely to play all the games. He’s (Suryakumar) a deserving candidate, over time we’ll see how he develops into the role. Regarding Hardik, he’s still a very important player for us. That’s what we want, him to be the player that can be. Those sorts of skillsets are very difficult to find, what he has. Fitness obviously has been a challenge for him over the last few years and that then becomes a little bit more difficult for a coach or even us selectors.
“We’ve got a bit more time till the next T20 World Cup where we can look at a few things and it’s not rushed at the moment. We want him… like I said, he’s an important player for us and hopefully, his performances are more important. I mean, fitness is a clear challenge, and we want someone who is likely to be available more often than not. Again, after saying all that, I think Surya has got the necessary qualities you need to succeed as a captain,” says Agarkar.
Hardik, Rohit’s deputy during the T20 World Cup, was the favourite to take over from the outgoing Indian skipper, but fitness issues and feedback from the dressing room prompted the Indian think tank to look Surya’s way. Both Agarkar and Gambhir didn’t leave anything to the imagination and clearly explained the reasons for the move.
Throughout their nearly 30-minute interaction with the press at a plush hotel in Mumbai, there was no beating around the bush with diplomatic statements. The two were very forthright during their answers, and it was unusual to see Gambhir announce his support staff for the upcoming series. He could have side-stepped the query or just mentioned a couple of names, but the former India cricketer revealed the names, roles, and the decision to have two assistant coaches in Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate.
Before Gambhir’s comments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had yet to officially announce the support staff, and some reports suggested the two parties needed to be on the same page regarding the suggested names. Gambhir addressed those reports and talked about his relationship with BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
“I have a fabulous relationship with him. Mr Jay Shah and I go a long way back. All these speculations about different things are given on different pages. I think we can do a better job by clarifying those things rather than putting it in the press. We go a long way back. So far, it’s been a great relationship,” says Gambhir.
One answer at a time, both Gambhir and Agarkar addressed the greys left after the media release carrying the two squads last week. The chairman clarified that Ravindra Jadeja is rested, Surya wasn’t considered for ODIs, and the head coach emphasised the rotation of fast bowlers, keeping the upcoming Test workload in mind, where India plays as many as ten fixtures, including five away games vs. Australia.
‘I have had a lot of chats with him (Virat Kohli)’
A Kohli question was not going to be too far behind, and Gambhir, when asked about his relationship with the Indian batter and past confrontations, said all is well between them and was all praise for the “thorough profession, world-class player.”
“On the field, everyone has got the right to fight for their own jersey and come back to a winning dressing room. But at the moment, we’re representing India, representing 140 crore Indians, and I’m sure we’re going to be on the same page and try to make India proud. I share a very good relationship off the field and will continue to do that. But yes, to make it more public, what kind of a relationship… I think it’s between two individuals,” says Gambhir.
When asked whether he had had any conversation with Kohli after the appointment, Gambhir said he had had a “lot of chats”.
“I’ve had a lot of chats with him. We’ve shared messages. It’s not important what we discussed, how many chats have I had with him, after my announcement or before my announcement or during the game, after the games. Sometimes, just because we want headlines, it’s not important. Right now, the most important thing is we both are going to be working extremely hard to make India proud. And that’s our job,” adds Gambhir.
The Sri Lanka series is a short assignment for the Men in Blue, but the blueprint for what is going to be a crucial 10-12 months featuring 10 Tests, the Champions Trophy, and another possible shot at the World Test Championship title has been prepared.
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