Gambhir talks tough: Honesty is important; dressing room debates should stay there

Sydney, Jan 2: Asserting that “debates” in the dressing room should not come out in public domain, India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said he has had some “honest” conversations with his players and that the ongoing transition in the team will be all-encompassing.

Gambhir also side-stepped queries on whether out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma will get a place in the final XI for the fifth and final Test against Australia starting on Friday.

Amid reports of unrest in the dressing room, the head coach sought to douse the fire by declaring that they were “just reports, not truth”.

“There were some honest words is all I can say. Honesty is extremely important if you want to go on and achieve some great things,” Gambhir told mediapersons on the eve of the Test match that India need to win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and stay alive in the World Test Championship.

The straight-talking former opener refrained from taking names but acknowledged that a transition is in progress and performance will be the sole criteria to stay in the side.

“Indian cricket will always be in safe hands as long as there are honest people in that dressing room. Honesty is the most important thing for any transition.

“And it’s not phasing out senior players and bringing in new players. Ultimately what will keep you in the dressing room is performance,” Gambhir couldn’t be more precise.

If one read between the lines, it seemed that even Mohammed Shami’s days as an international cricketer are numbered. Shami could not regain fitness for the current series despite being a rehab for a while.

“Earlier when transitions happened it seemed, one department is taking the team forward but (in this case) transition will happen in both batting as well as bowling,” he said.

The question of natural game versus situational awareness cropped up and the coach reiterated his stand that the team’s needs come first.

“Only one ideology matters and that’s team first. It’s a team sport and you have got to play how team needs you to play. You can play the natural game but in team sport, individuals only contribute.”

When Rishabh Pant’s shot-selection in the Melbourne Test was specifically mentioned, he brushed it aside, saying, “I don’t want to talk about individuals, they know where they stand.”

The feisty Gambhir was on full view when an Australian reporter threw a query on why Rohit had not showed up for the interaction as is the “tradition”.

“Can you confirm the playing eleven?” he asked.

The response was vague when it came to addressing the question on his final XI.

“Everything is fine with Rohit and I don’t think there is anything traditional here. The head coach is here and that should be good enough,” he said.

“We will decide on the playing XI after looking at the pitch,” he added.

When the same question was repeated, he was more terse.

“The answer remains the same.”

So, what are the conversations that he has had with Rohit and Virat Kohli, whose dismissals outside the off-stump continue to hurt the team.

“There’s only one conversation and that’s how to win matches for India. We all know how important that is,” he said.

However, Gambhir said that he doesn’t appreciate dressing room debates get space in public discourse.

“Debates between coaches and players should be confined between them. This sport is known for results but conversations between individuals should stay inside dressing room,” he asserted. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

2 dead, 20 feared swept away in Kangra as cloudbursts, flash floods and heavy rain batter HP

Shimla/Dharamshala, June 25: Two persons died while about 20...

Pistol, ammo recovered from stream, cash found in car  

Honeymoon murder: Breakthrough in Indore by Meghalaya police   Shillong, June...

Govt assures safety of border residents  

Formal announcement on ‘resolved areas’ on August 15: Paul   Shillong,...

Tension erupts along Meghalaya-Assam border

Mob of 400 destroys ‘illegal’ plantation at Tahpat, sets...

ONGC advances well control at RDS site amid flood, safety hurdles

Guwahati, June 25: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation...

Landslide disrupts Lumding–Badarpur rail line, restoration may take a week

Guwahati, June 25: Rail connectivity on the Lumding–Badarpur section...

CM thanks Modi for recognising Ryndia  

Ryndia reflects global commitment to sustainability and social responsibility:...

Border clash erupts at Assam-Meghalaya disputed zone, one injured in fresh tensions

Guwahati, June 25: Tensions flared again along the disputed...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img