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Head coach Gautam Gambhir has admitted that India’s recurring injury problems are making it difficult for Shubman Gill to lead the team consistently across formats. The head coach said it is particularly important for Gill to have his strongest possible XI available regularly, arguing that constant changes make the captain’s job more difficult.
Gautam Gambhir’s comments came amid another period of fitness concerns surrounding the Indian team. Several key players have missed matches in recent months, while the BCCI Centre of Excellence has faced scrutiny over injury management after setbacks involving players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakravarthy.
BCCI CoE under scanner amid injury issues in Indian cricket
India’s injury concerns have become a recurring issue across formats during the current international season. Bumrah was ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series after failing to recover fully from his knee problem, despite undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Sai Sudharsan also missed that series, while Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar dealt with their own fitness issues.
The scrutiny intensified again when Varun Chakravarthy suffered a fresh side strain after playing only the first T20I against Afghanistan. He had recently returned after recovering from a hamstring injury and had undergone rehabilitation at the CoE. The latest setback resulted in him missing the remainder of the Afghanistan series and being ruled out of the Asian Games.
The CoE has defended its processes amid the criticism. VVS Laxman said in August that there had been no communication breakdown between the facility, team management and selectors, while stressing that the CoE's role extends beyond simply rehabilitating injured players.
The continuing availability problems have also affected India's plans for the ODI series against West Indies, which is being treated as part of the build-up to the 2027 World Cup. The current ODI squad includes Shubman Gill as captain, with KL Rahul as vice-captain, while Hardik Pandya is unavailable and Nitish Kumar Reddy has been moved into the ODI setup.
I think it is important for Shubman Gill to get the best playing at 11 - Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was asked how difficult it has become for the coaching staff and captain when injuries prevent India from fielding the same combination throughout a series. He acknowledged that the situation is a problem, particularly in Test and ODI cricket, and highlighted the impact it can have on a young captain such as Gill.
"If I give an absolutely honest answer, then yes. Because, especially in Test cricket and one-day cricket, you want your best players to play as much Test cricket and one-day cricket as possible because the next World Cup is a 50-over World Cup," Gautam Gambhir stated.
"And more importantly, it's not fair on a young captain as well if he doesn't get the best team playing consistently and regularly and not being on the par consistently, if I have to be dead honest. Yes, I can, as a coach, I can take all the criticism, but for me, I think it is important for Shubman to get the best playing at 11 as many times as he can in red ball and in white ball format to few more format as well.
"Look, this is not ideal": Gautam Gambhir on India players missing ODI series for Asian Games
Gautam Gambhir was also questioned about India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with several frontline players set to be involved in the Asian Games instead of the West Indies ODI series. The three-match ODI series begins on September 27, with India also having to manage its squad amid the ongoing fitness concerns.
Guatam Gambhir acknowledged that the situation was not ideal but said the absence of established players would also give younger members of the squad an opportunity to make their case in the 50-over format.
"Look, this is not ideal. Obviously, we know that it's not ideal when you are preparing for a World Cup which is in years' time. But again, the Asian Games squad was selected long back and sometimes it's difficult for the selectors when they have to put the best squad in place. So, we always knew that if the best team goes or the best frontline players go to Asian Games, we will have to probably compromise a bit in this one-day series against West Indies.
"But again, it gives other people the opportunity as well. And obviously, series like this and you got young guys like Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi getting those opportunities in this squad. So, they can also show that what they bring in white ball format and obviously, the bigger the pool, the better it is for us and we have this opportunity in the next three one-day games.
"Because normally when you have all the players available, sometimes players might not get that opportunity. But now, with people like Rutu, Auqib, Naman, these guys will get that opportunity. So, from one end, it's good. But on the other side, obviously, you want the best players as well," Gautam Gambhir concluded.
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