As the Indian cricket team embarks on its grueling five-Test tour of Australia, coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar are simultaneously charting a roadmap for the future of India's white-ball teams.
Following India's disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand, the need for transition has become increasingly evident. Agarkar has been tasked with staying in Australia throughout the tour to collaborate closely with Gambhir and assess the current state of each player's career.
The primary objective is to ensure that Agarkar and Gambhir are in sync regarding the team's future direction. Recent speculations have hinted at a lack of alignment in selection and strategy.
"Both Agarkar and Gambhir recognize that such poor performance in India will inevitably draw criticism," said a BCCI source. "With the extended duration of the tour, they can engage in discussions about the team's future trajectory."
A crucial aspect of their mission involves engaging with senior players about their long-term plans. Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja are all approaching their late 30s.
"These senior players remain integral to the team," the source added. "However, there may be some challenging conversations. They will be informed about the selectors' and coach's vision and asked to share their career aspirations in the context of the upcoming World Test Championship cycle and the ODI World Cup."
With the ICC Champions Trophy looming shortly after the Test series, the workload of Test players will be carefully considered. The selectors, Rohit, and Gambhir aim to identify a core group for the Champions Trophy.
Gambhir is also advocating for a dedicated T20 team composed solely of T20 specialists, rather than multi-format players. This proposal is likely to spark debate, as India's multi-format players are often rested from bilateral T20I series.
"T20 cricket demands specialists," the source explained. "However, there are players like Bumrah, Pant, Jaiswal, and Gill who cannot be overlooked. Many T20I series are played against weaker opponents or teams that also rest their top players. Some believe that the younger players in the T20 team should not have to make way for Test players when they become available."
Tags: #Cricket, #TeamIndia, #WhiteBall, #Transition, #Gambhir
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