Cricket

Suryakumar Yadav, the enigmatic T20 batter, has been appointed as the new captain of India's T20I team, marking a significant shift in leadership following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the format. This decision, made under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, has sparked considerable discussion and analysis.Initially, Hardik Pandya, who served as vice-captain during India's T20 World Cup triumph, was considered the frontrunner for the captaincy. However, concerns over his fitness led the team management to opt for Suryakumar, widely regarded as the most consistent and impactful T20 batter in the lineup.The idea of promoting Suryakumar to captaincy was first considered during outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid's tenure, according to former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. The new management, led by Gambhir, decided to implement this vision when the opportunity presented itself."We felt that here's a guy who's gonna have a long future in the T20 format. He has mastered that skill. One of the best in this format. He and Klaasen are maybe one or two in T20Is now based on their current form. Just the pure impact he has on winning games for India is phenomenal," Mhambrey told Hindustan Times.Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized the importance of inputs from within the dressing room in making this decision. Mhambrey also pointed to Suryakumar's positive relationship with team members, particularly the younger players."He's been with the team. I've seen him interact with the young guys. On one hand, we had Rohit and Virat, guys who are stalwarts, and then we have Surya, who is experienced but probably even closer to the youngsters. He is very friendly with everyone. He has that respect from the younger lot. The youngsters need to interact with him, he's good at it. So, he has a good bond with everyone in the team," Mhambrey said.At 33, Suryakumar Yadav still has several years ahead in his cricketing career, potentially leading India in the next two T20 World Cups."He has a lot of cricket left in him. He has a good four-five years of cricket left in him. With all this, I think he is a great choice," Mhambrey added.This decision marks a pivotal moment in India's T20 cricket as it transitions to new leadership under a new coach and a captain who has shown remarkable talent and rapport within the team.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as India's head coach has sparked speculation about the future of veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both players retired from T20Is after the recent World Cup, leaving their availability for future tournaments uncertain.BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that Rohit will lead India in the ICC Champions Trophy and World Test Championship in 2025. However, it remains unclear whether he and Kohli will be available for the 2027 ODI World Cup.Gambhir has stated that both players are in his plans, emphasizing their experience and ability. However, former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has pointed out Gambhir's previous comments suggesting that senior players would be dropped if they underperformed in the T20 World Cup.Srikkanth believes that Kohli's fitness levels could allow him to play in the 2027 World Cup, but he doubts Rohit's ability to perform at a high level at the age of 40. The tournament will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, which could pose physical challenges for older players.The BCCI has not yet made a decision on the future of Rohit and Kohli. The selectors will likely assess their performances in the upcoming series and make a determination based on their form and fitness.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, commenced his tenure with the team's first practice session in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, ahead of the upcoming T20I series against the hosts. The Indian contingent arrived in Colombo on Monday and subsequently traveled to Pallekele for the three-match T20I series, which will be followed by as many ODIs in Colombo.Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the T20I format, Suryakumar Yadav has been entrusted with the captaincy for the series. Rohit will rejoin the team for the ODIs, along with Virat Kohli, who also announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game.During the practice session, Gambhir was observed closely monitoring the players and providing valuable batting advice to wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. The BCCI shared a video of the session on their official Twitter account, highlighting Gambhir's active involvement in the team's preparations.Prior to the team's departure for Sri Lanka, Gambhir addressed his first press conference alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar explained the rationale behind appointing Suryakumar as the T20I captain over all-rounder Hardik Pandya."Suryakumar is one of the deserving candidates. He is one of the best T20 batters in the world. We wanted a captain who was likely to play all the games. We will see how he will do," Agarkar stated.Regarding Hardik Pandya, Agarkar emphasized his continued importance to the team. "As far as Hardik is concerned, he is still a very important player. And that's what we want him to be. Fitness has been a challenge for him over the last few years...Then it becomes difficult for the coach or selectors. I think Surya has the necessary qualities to succeed as a captain," he added.The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Pallekele on Saturday.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as head coach of the Indian cricket team has been met with mixed reactions. Some have questioned his experience, while others have praised his leadership qualities.Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid at the helm, is already in Sri Lanka with the Indian team for the upcoming white-ball tour. He was one of the two candidates interviewed for the role by BCCI's COC, following his successful stint as mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).The likes of Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Mahela Jayawardene, and Stephen Fleming, were also reportedly in the race. However, the BCCI's priority was always an Indian.While Gambhir's appointment was made official on July 9, after Rahul Dravid's contract came to an end, former India pacer Ashish Nehra was also floating in the media.During a recent interaction, Nehra has opened up about why he didn't apply. The 45-year-old insisted that his children are young, and he was not in the mood to travel for nine months."Meri abhi kabhi us tareh soch nahi gayi hai. My kids are young. GG ke bacche bhi abhi young hai par sabki soch alag alag hoti hai, toh I am very happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months (I never thought about it. My children are still young. Gautam Gambhir also has young children, but everyone has different ideas. That's why I am happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months)," Nehra told Sports Today.Meanwhile, Gambhir also confirmed the names of two assistant coaches that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved. Though the complete list of coaches will be confirmed only after the Sri Lanka tour, Gambhir is happy to see the board agreeing to most of his demands as the head coach of the Indian team.During a media briefing, Gambhir revealed that his former Kolkata Knight Riders mates, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar have joined him as assistant coaches."This is going to be the crux of the support staff. As I said, we still have one month after the Sri Lanka tour. We will try and finalise after the Sri Lanka tour. But, I have worked with people like Abhishek Nayar, Ryan Ten Doeschate very closely. In the last two months, especially in the IPL, I have enjoyed working with them. They are thorough professionals. Hope Ryan and Abhishek can have a successful stint.""Hopefully, we can have a successful tenure as coaches. I am really looking forward to work with the rest of the other guys as well. I have had some really good feedback from the players about the other guys. I am really looking forward to working with them. My experience and learning have been been very simple," Gambhir said.

Hardik Pandya's leadership role in India's T20I team has been revoked, with Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach, opting for Suryakumar Yadav as captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain. This decision has raised eyebrows, given Pandya's successful stint as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.Ashish Nehra, who coached Pandya at Gujarat Titans, expressed no surprise at the move. He believes that Gambhir has a different vision for the team and that Pandya does not fit into his plans as captain or vice-captain."Every coach and every captain have different thoughts. At this time, his (Gambhir's) ideas are toward that direction," Nehra said.Nehra also agreed with the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, that Pandya's fitness was a factor in the decision. Pandya has been playing limited overs cricket and is not a regular in the Test team."Hardik Pandya, in white-ball cricket, will remain a very, very important player for Indian cricket. When you have him, you can have 4 fast bowlers, he brings in a different balance to the side," Nehra said.Nehra also praised the appointment of Shubman Gill as vice-captain, but acknowledged that he is still a "work in progress" as a leader."They have made Shubman Gill in not just one format, but in all three formats. That means you are looking ahead," Nehra said."Shubman Gill is a work in progress. He is 24-25 years old now. He will get better as we go ahead. He has the desire to play all 3 formats, he has the heart to learn," he added.

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli: A United Front Despite On-Field ClashesFormer India head coach Ashish Nehra has shed light on the relationship between new head coach Gautam Gambhir and superstar batter Virat Kohli, who have had a history of on-field confrontations.Despite their past clashes, Nehra believes that Gambhir and Kohli will work together harmoniously as they share a common goal of success for the Indian team. He emphasized that their on-field conflicts are not indicative of their relationship off the field."Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are two very passionate individuals. Whenever they play for a team, they can turn up against the opposition. But, when they are together in a dressing room, they are together, united for the team," Nehra said.Nehra also highlighted the experience and maturity of both Gambhir and Kohli, which he believes will help them navigate any potential conflicts. "You're talking about Virat Kohli, who has an experience of over 16-17 years, Gautam Gambhir is also experienced. The things on the outside, people get an impression about it. It's not just Gambhir and Kohli, there are so many players who have had on-field spats in the past, but when they play together for a team, they have done well as a player, as a coach-captain, as a coach and senior player," he added.Nehra also commented on Gambhir's upfront and transparent personality, which he believes is a positive attribute for a coach. "Gautam Gambhir is upfront, transparent which is great. He keeps it clear and speaks his mind. That's very important. Yes, I agree, everybody has their own style (of coaching), to operate with the coach, captain and player. I don't see any problem with these two and where they are in their careers," Nehra said.While Gambhir's coaching style may differ from that of his predecessor Rahul Dravid, Nehra does not anticipate any major issues between Gambhir and Kohli. He believes that their shared passion for the game and their commitment to the team will ultimately prevail.

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the Indian cricket team's head coach has sparked mixed reactions. While many experts and fans welcomed the move, former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed believes Gambhir did not deserve the role.Gambhir was appointed after Rahul Dravid's tenure ended following India's triumph at the T20 World Cup 2024. The appointment came as a surprise to some, as the names of WV Raman and National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman were also in contention.Tanveer took to social media to express his disappointment with Gambhir's appointment, calling it a "parchi" case. He argued that Laxman should have been appointed due to his work with the youngsters."VVS Laxman should have become the head coach of the Indian team because he has been with the India B team as coach for a long time. It seems as if Gautam Gambhir's appointment is a 'parchi' case," Tanveer posted on X.However, Gambhir's appointment has been welcomed by many. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar praised Gambhir's leadership qualities and his ability to get the best out of his players."Gautam Gambhir is a proven leader. He has captained India to victory in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He is also a very good tactician and knows how to get the best out of his players," Gavaskar said.Gambhir has already begun his tenure as head coach, leading the team in their first practice session ahead of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The new T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was also involved in the session.Gambhir was seen giving batting tips to Sanju Samson and had a chat with all-rounder Shivam Dube. The training session focused on running, catching, and one-on-one interactions.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, commenced his tenure on Tuesday as the team initiated their first practice session in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The session marked the beginning of preparations for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the host nation.Gambhir, who succeeded the esteemed Rahul Dravid, led the team onto the field and oversaw the training session. The session encompassed fielding drills, running exercises, and one-on-one interactions with the players. Suryakumar Yadav, the newly appointed T20I captain, also actively engaged with the team members.During the session, Gambhir was observed providing batting guidance to Sanju Samson and engaging in discussions with all-rounder Shivam Dube. Gambhir's coaching staff for the Sri Lanka tour includes former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar and Dutch batter Ryan ten Doeschate. The trio recently collaborated to guide the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the IPL 2024.Their maiden assignment with the national team will commence on July 27 with the T20I series, followed by three ODIs. T Dilip, who was part of Dravid's support staff, will continue as the fielding coach. Sairaj Bahutule, affiliated with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, will serve as the interim bowling coach.Gambhir's appointment as head coach has generated significant anticipation among fans and experts alike. His proven track record as a successful player and his recent coaching success with KKR have raised expectations for the Indian team's performance under his leadership.The upcoming series against Sri Lanka will provide an early indication of Gambhir's coaching philosophy and the team's progress under his guidance. The series will also serve as a crucial preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup and the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed India head coach, has emphasized the significance of workload management for premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, describing him as a "rare bowler." During his inaugural press conference, Gambhir stressed the importance of preserving Bumrah's longevity and ensuring his availability for crucial matches.Bumrah's injury history has been a concern for the Indian team, with the 30-year-old spending extended periods on the sidelines. In 2022, he missed the T20 World Cup due to a back injury and underwent surgery in March 2023, keeping him out for four months.Gambhir acknowledged Bumrah's exceptional talent and the need to manage his workload effectively. "He is one rare bowler that anyone would want," Gambhir said. "You want him to play important games. That's why workload management for not just him but fast bowlers is important."While emphasizing the importance of workload management for fast bowlers, Gambhir also expressed his expectation that batters should be available for all formats of the game. "If you are a batter, who's batting well, you might as well just play all formats," he said. "Rohit and Virat have retired from T20Is now, so they will play two formats from now. Hopefully, they are available for most of the games."Gambhir's comments highlight the delicate balance between preserving the health of fast bowlers and ensuring the availability of key players for all formats of the game. As India prepares for a busy schedule in the coming months, including the ODI World Cup in 2023, effective workload management will be crucial to the team's success.