Gautam Gambhir removed from India's Test team ownership

Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shared his thoughts on the selection issues in India’s squad for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester. The former India batter stated that the skipper is responsible for the team selection, adding that it's Shubman Gill's team, not Gautam Gambhir’s.

India’s selection for the fourth Test against England drew criticism for favoring batting depth over bowling. The team once again ignored Kuldeep Yadav, picking Shardul Thakur as a replacement for the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. Debutant Anshul Kamboj was brought in for the injured Akash Deep.

Sunil Gavaskar on Whether Team India Belongs to Shubman Gill or Gautam Gambhir

During Day 4 of the fourth Test, Sunil Gavaskar was asked whether the current Indian team belongs to Shubman Gill or Gautam Gambhir. The former India captain said that during his playing days, there were no head coaches, only team managers or assistant managers.

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"We didn't have coaches. We just had former players as managers or assistant managers of the team. They were the kind of people who you went up to and talked to, they gave you some advice at lunchtime or at the end of the day's play or on the eve of the game," Gavaskar told Sony Sports.

"So, it is difficult for me to get my head around the captain and the coach's combination. When I was captain, we had nobody who was a former player."

At the End of the Day, It's a Captain's Team - Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar said that the final say on team selection should rest with the captain. He added that as captain, Gill should be accountable for who is or isn’t included.

"At the end of the day it's a captain's team, like Nasser said. You can't say this, he didn't want somebody, maybe in Shardul Thakur's case or Kuldeep Yadav's case - he should have had them in the team. He's the captain. People are going to talk about him and his captaincy. So, it's got to be his call really," he added.

Shubman Gill Is the One Who Is Responsible - Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar said that not all team selection decisions reflect the captain's choices. He hinted that some selections might be made to project a sense of harmony within the team, but the captain still bears the responsibility.

"I know for the sake of the showing everything hunky dory these things might not come out. The fact is that captain is the one who is responsible. He is the one, who is going to be leading those," Gavaskar opined.

Kuldeep Yadav has struggled to secure a regular spot in India's Test XI despite his impressive record in red-ball cricket. The left-arm wrist-spinner made his debut in March 2017 against Australia. He has played just 13 Tests so far, taking 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, including four five-wicket hauls.

Speaking after Day 3 of the ongoing Manchester Test, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that the team management is finding it difficult to accommodate Kuldeep. Depth in the batting lineup has made it challenging to fit him into the playing XI.

Also read: India vs England Weather Report, Day 5, Manchester Test 2025