Head coach Gautam Gambhir is apparently not happy with the way Team India players is going about in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025. It has been learnt that there are evident tensions in the Indian dressing room. Sports Tak has learnt that Gambhir had a hard-hitting talks with India players during team assessment.
Gautam Gambhir lashes out at Team India after MCG Test disaster
And right after India's massive 184-run defeat in the fourth Test against Australia, Gambhir during the team assessment blasted the entire squad on December 29. However, Gambhir didn't namedrop anyone as his conversation was entirely based on how players were doing their own thing instead they were doing their own thing.
"Right after the match Gambhir during a team assessment had a hard-hitting talks with the entire squad including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He wanted to say, 'tum log jaag rahe ho ya nahi'. He said it in a better way, that 'itne time se mai kuch bol nahi raha hoon to iska matlab ye nahi ki tum granted lo sabkuch' . However, his speech was entirely focused for betterment of the team. Gambhir's speech was a clear hint to everyone who is underperforming in the series," the top source privy to the development told Sports Tak.
Besides India's dismal show in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the major factor which is adding to their woes is the underwhelming performances from their senior most players, captain Rohit Sharma and batting maestro Virat Kohli. Both Kohli and Rohit have been experiencing a big dip in form in recent Test matches. Rohit has amassed 619 runs in 14 matches this year, averaging 24.76 with two centuries and two half-centuries. Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 417 runs in 10 matches, averaging 24.52 with one century and one half-century. While Rohit has scored 31 runs across five innings in the series so far, Kohli has clocked just 167 runs in 7 innings including the century in the Perth Test.
Meanwhile, with India trailing 1-2 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy which has taken a big dent to their WTC final prospects, Gambhir is clearly fed-up and up for the harsh talks and big decisions.
Gautam Gambhir's request to Include Cheteshwar Pujara in BGT turned down
It has also been learnt that there are evident tensions in the Indian dressing room. Gambhir apparently wanted to play Cheteshwar Pujara but it was apparently turned down by the selectors.
Cheteshwar Pujara, India's most experienced Test batter with 100 Test matches to his credit, has been sidelined from the national team since the 2023 World Test Championship final. His exclusion followed a disappointing performance in the final, where he managed to score only 41 runs across both innings.
Prior to the commencement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, there was considerable speculation regarding Pujara's potential inclusion in the Indian Test squad. However, the team's final selection indicated that the selectors have begun to consider options beyond the veteran batsman.