‘A little rift’: Dinesh Karthik hints at Gautam Gambhir-Ajit Agarkar split after India’s T20I disaster | Cricket News
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes there are differences between head coaches Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkarsuggesting that differing priorities may have contributed to India’s selection decisions during the recent T20I tour of the UK. India endured a disappointing campaign under the captaincy Shreyas Iyerlost the two-match series 2-0 to Ireland before being beaten 4-0 by England in the five-match T20I series. The performances put Gambhir under more scrutiny, while the management of Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also came under the spotlight. Sooryavanshi, who has impressed in the IPL, is widely tipped to make his international debut in the Ireland series. However, Samson kept his place in the XI. After Samson made just three low scores, he was dropped in favor of the 15-year-old, who made his debut against England but failed to make an impact. Sooryavanshi was left out of the fifth and final T20I, with Samson returning to the side. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Karthik said the frequent changes suggest there is a disconnect between the team management and the selection committee. “It’s a bit of a rift between the chief selector and head coach. I feel like Agarkar has long-term plans, and the current coach is saying, ‘You know, I want to win every game I play.’ Hence, the confusion we see unfolding before us. Is it good for players? Absolutely not,” says Karthik. He also pointed out that the immense depth in the Indian squad only adds to the pressure on players trying to cement their places. “I mean, if you’re from India, think about your strength on the bench? Everyone thinks that if I have a couple of bad games, anyone can replace me. More than that, it happens, it is definitely a situation that India needs to be aware of and rectify as soon as possible,” he added. Karthik further suggested that Agarkar’s focus will be on developing the next generation, while Gambhir will naturally be under pressure to deliver immediate results. “I think chief selector Agarkar has one eye on the future, and he wants to see the group of players around. Meanwhile, Gambhir might be thinking, ‘I want to win every series because this is my name on the line.’ Therefore, there may be conflict; looks like it is,” said Karthik. “There is a selector who wants to build the squad, and there is another who says I want to succeed because every series I play, my name is on the line with the captain,” he added. Following the disappointing tour, the BCCI has confirmed that it will conduct a review of India’s poor T20I performances during the UK leg, with team selections and overall results expected to come under close scrutiny.
Post Comment