BGT 2024-25: Gautam Gambhir Wanted Cheteshwar Pujara In Team India But Selectors Turned Down

Everything is not going right for Team India at the moment as they are already 1-2 down in the BGT 2024-25. There have been a lot of question marks on Team India’s performances since that home series loss against New Zealand (NZ). Their batting has been misfiring for a while and other than Jasprit Bumrah, no bowlers have made a huge impact in the ongoing test series. Now, after a loss at the MCG, a few things from the Indian team dressing room have come out in the media. Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach wasn’t pleased with the players who are underperforming. The media reports also suggested that Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara for the BGT 2024-25 but the selectors denied his selection.

Today, we will see what are the talks and leak chats of the Indian dressing room that have been out in the media. We will also see what Gautam Gambhir has said in a press conference a day before the SCG test commence. So let’s start.

Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara in Team India for BGT 2024-24

The media reports from a reputed newspaper “The Indian Express” have suggested that India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted experienced campaigner Cheteshwar Pujara in the team for the BGT 2024-25. Gambhir wanted Pujara’s solidity in the batting line-up as he has done well in Australia in the past. Pujara has helped Team India to win the last two Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia with his batting. He scored 792 and 271 runs in BGT 2018-19 and 2020-21 respectively.

Gautam Gambhir reportedly wanted to select Cheteshwar Pujara for the Australia tour, but the selectors turned down his recommendation.

‘Enough is enough’, says Gambhir

According to the reports from The Indian Express, Gautam Gambhir was furious with the players who are underperforming in the series. He said – ‘Bus Bohot Ho Gaya (I have had enough).’ The head coach also told ‘some’ of the players to play according to the strategy and team plans, otherwise, they would have been dropped from the playing XI. There is no specific name of a player mentioned but we can assume to whom Gambhir was saying.

Reportedly, Gambhir also said from now on, he will decide and run the team as he hasn’t done it for the last 6 months. According to sources, Gambhir resolved the tension between team interest and intent. He informed the players that they were acting independently rather than carrying out the “plans discussed.”

Several Indian cricket team sources also say the dressing room environment is not good.

Captaincy ambitions of a few players and who is the ‘Mr. Fix-it?

According to the media reports, there are at least a couple of players (all youngsters) who aspire to be the next captain of the Indian team. We can’t take the name of those players because there is no official name taken in that report, but everyone can assume who were those two ‘youngsters’. Maybe, one of the wicketkeepers in the current Indian team and someone who was dropped in the last game.

Also, there is one senior player who reportedly said he could fix all the things and took the captaincy in this tough transition period. Again, no names will be taken but he has been named as ‘Mr. Fix-it.’ He is prepared to position himself as a temporary solution. He isn’t sure that the young guns are prepared to assume leadership responsibilities, said those in the know.

Everything is not good in the Indian team dressing room?

Although we can’t say there is a clear rift, everything is not going well in the team. The atmosphere is not ideal and it leads to the team’s loss. It is also learned that Gautam Gambhir didn’t have much authority to select the playing XI. The decision to play Harshit Rana and W Sundar in the first test wasn’t reportedly unanimous.

Dressing room chats can’t be out in public

Former cricketers like Irfan Pathan and WV Raman said the dressing room talks cannot be public. It will only hinder the team’s performance. Aakash Chopra also said on his YT channel that chat leaks lead to grouping in the team and insecurity in the dressing room.

What does Gautam Gambhir say in the press conference?

Gambhir came to today’s presser and addressed all the questions from the media. Regarding the atmosphere in the Team India dressing room, he said, ‘Everything is fine.’ He said the team has only talked about how they can win the next test, and no other conversation has been had in the dressing room.

Conclusion

Although Gautam Gambhir told the media that everything is fine in the dressing room, we can assume that things are not ideal. Right now, Team India should focus on the SCG test and try to forget what’s happening in the media. It’s not but there is a test match to play for India. They can still level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

↻ Sam Konstas Rattled Jasprit Bumrah And Team India On His Debut: BGT 2024-25 | MCG Test