Ahmedabad, February 13 – India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has dismissed speculation regarding Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the ODI team despite his impressive form. He clarified that the right-handed batsman was always a part of the team’s plans and will be a crucial player for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
During India’s 3-0 series victory against England, Iyer displayed stellar performances, including a counterattacking 59 off 36 balls in Nagpur after India was struggling at 19/2 while chasing 249. He followed it up with scores of 44 and 78 in the next two matches. However, controversy arose when Iyer claimed he was included in the playing XI only after Virat Kohli was ruled out due to knee pain, sparking speculation about his place in the squad.
Addressing these rumors after the third ODI on Wednesday, Gambhir clarified that Iyer was never intended to be benched and that the team wanted to give Yashasvi Jaiswal a chance due to his impressive form in Australia. Eventually, Iyer was preferred over Jaiswal, and Gambhir reaffirmed his significance in the team.
The Champions Trophy is set to commence on February 19, with India playing its first match against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. Gambhir acknowledged that Jasprit Bumrah’s injury-enforced absence is a setback but sees it as an opportunity for young pacers like Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh to step up.
Bumrah, who played a pivotal role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year with 15 wickets, including a match-winning spell in the final, has been ruled out due to a recurring back issue. Gambhir expressed confidence in Mohammed Shami’s return alongside Arshdeep and Rana, emphasizing that the team must move forward and focus on available resources.
Harshit Rana, who replaced Bumrah in the squad, has impressed with his recent performances. Gambhir praised his and Arshdeep’s contributions in the series, admitting that Bumrah’s absence will be felt but experienced pacers like Shami can fill the void.
When asked if Bumrah’s absence gives other teams a psychological edge, Gambhir stated that the team has no control over injuries and must focus on adapting and performing.
On the decision to promote Axar Patel to No. 5 in the batting order, Gambhir clarified that the idea was to include a left-handed batsman in the middle order, bringing balance and variety to the lineup. He reiterated that team selection should be based on impact rather than rigid batting positions, questioning why a team would stick to all right-handed batters in the top five when a left-hander could provide an advantage.
With India gearing up for the Champions Trophy, Gambhir remains optimistic about the squad’s depth and its ability to compensate for missing key players while maximizing the available talent.
