Head coach of the Indian team Gautam Gambhir The skipper criticized the media for Rohit Sharma's episode during the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. The 43-year-old expert said that the media should avoid unnecessary speculation and be more sensitive.
These remarks came amid reports of differences between Gambhir and Rohit while picking the playing XI. Reports also suggested that the players did not follow the team management's plans during the fourth Test in Melbourne.
Gambhir told reporters at the post-match press conference (via Indian Express):
“I would like to say that so many reports have been written and many things have been said. At least we can be a little more sensitive about it. If a captain, even a captain, a leader made that decision ahead of his team, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. So, many things have been said, many things have been said.
With so much talk in the media, Rohit Sharma has broken his silence On whether he played his last Test in Melbourne.
'We have very honest players in our dressing room' – Gautam Gambhir backs Rohit Sharma's decision to leave playing XI for 5th Test
Gautam Gambhir also defended skipper Rohit Sharma as he was left out of the playing XI for the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. He implicitly called Rohit selfless for leaving his place to accommodate an in-form player in the best interest of the team with the series on the line.
The records came despite Rohit scoring just 31 runs in 5 overs at under 6.2. The 37-year-old managed 164 runs in the last 15 innings at an average of 10.93, including a solitary half-century.
Gambhir told reporters during the same interaction:
“Ultimately, the international team does not sit there, the most important thing is the team, and the most important thing is the country. “Every individual knows that his game and hard work are the most important thing for any sport and any profession.”
“Because at the end of the day, it's not my team, it's not your team, it's the nation's team. “I believe, as I said, we have very honest players in our dressing room who know how hungry they are and how the team can go forward with their contributions.”
Gambhir Rohit Sharma and added Virat Kohli they don't get special treatment because of their height in the team.
“But yes, in regards to my question, my biggest responsibility is to be fair to everyone on the team. Not just one or two people. If I am fair only to two or three people and not to others, then I have been dishonest to myself.”
However, the Men in Blue lost the BGT 2024-25 series by a margin of 1-3. It was their second consecutive series defeat after a 0-3 loss during the home series in New Zealand.
Edited by Samya Majumdar