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Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes India should select players for the upcoming World Cup based on their current form and potential to impact games rather than having any predetermined favourites for specific positions.
India is set to participate in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, followed by a three-match home series against Australia. This is in the lead-up to the ODI World Cup that commences on October 5.
Discussing the team's preparations for the Asia Cup on Star Sports, Gambhir stated, “One thing is clear, there is no front-runner for a position when you are trying to win the World Cup."
India's 17-member Asia Cup squad includes KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both of whom are returning from injuries. Promising left-hander Tilak Varma, yet to make his ODI debut, has also been included. Furthermore, faith has been placed in Suryakumar Yadav, who hasn't firmly established himself in the ODI format, while Ishan Kishan has been selected as the secondary wicketkeeper after Rahul.
Gambhir emphasised the importance of form, noting, "Just as (Team India skipper) Rohit Sharma had said, there is no guarantee for anybody’s position... It’s great to have Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul back from injury, but they will need to perform if they want to get in the starting lineup of the squad.”
He added, "If Tilak Varma is in better form than someone; if Suryakumar Yadav is in better form than Shreyas Iyer or KL Rahul or Ishan Kishan, then you need to start that player... The World Cup comes once in four years, you don’t go and see who is a front-runner or not."
Highlighting the importance of utilising Yadav's potential, Gambhir said, "Suryakumar Yadav may not have the consistency, but he has the impact, and the team management should find the most efficient way to use him." He also mentioned that the series against Australia could be a determining factor for World Cup selection.
"That series (ODIs vs Australia) will determine who plays in the World Cup rather than deciding after the series is over who will play in the World Cup. Because there should be a series before the World Cup where your main squad plays together.”
Regarding the ongoing discussions about the inclusion of three left-handed batters in the playing XI, Gambhir was firm in his belief that form trumps handedness. He said, "As I’ve said earlier, form is important. This debate about who is a left-hander or a right-hander or whether we need three left-handers is a useless debate."
He further questioned, "If we are focusing on left-handers, then what about Yashasvi Jaiswal and other left-handers?"
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