KKR vs SRH: Never select ODI, Test teams from IPL - Gautam Gambhir fires warning to BCCI amid reports of becoming head coach

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir doesn’t want the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to select players for Team India based on just Indian Premier League (IPL) performances. He believes that ODIs and Test teams shouldn’t be picked based on the tournament performances.

Gautam Gambhir has been in the reckoning for the head coach of Team India. Rahul Dravid’s tenure is all set to end after the T20 World Cup 2024. There have been reports that BCCI has approached the Kolkata Knight Riders mentor for the role.

Gautam Gambhir has earlier served as the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants for two years and is currently in the same role for Kolkata Knight Riders. The former India skipper has been terrific as a mentor for both the franchises.

Gautam Gambhir’s mentoring style has been exceptional. The amount of freedom that he gives to the players is something that has been liked by many. There have been various calls related to him taking up the role as many feel he could change the fortunes of Team India.

Amid talks about him taking up the coaching role for Team India, Gautam Gambhir came up with a valid point. He stated that IPL shouldn’t be a criterion for the selection into the Indian team.

He believes that Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji performances should be considered for the ODIs and Test selection. Speaking to Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel. He explained:

“I hope this is not the shortcut to play for India. The only way to play for India is to do well in first-class cricket, and then do well in 50-over cricket (Vijay Hazare). You can only select your T20 side from an IPL competition. You should never select your 50-ver side looking at T20 or IPL.

“If domestic players keep talking about how they can get selected in IPL, to play somewhere the focus starts shifting from first-class cricket to IPL. This is why I say IPL has improved in quality over time.”

I think you are making a lot of shortcuts for a lot of these young players to not focus on red ball cricket - Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir further claimed that only the T20I team should be selected based on the IPL. He believes if that happens for Tests and ODIs then it will push players away from the red-ball cricket. He added:

“T20 WorldCup, T20 side for India should be selected from IPL. A 50-over format should be selected from Vijay Hazare and your Test side should be selected from red-ball cricket. As simple as that.”

“Otherwise if you start selecting people in 50 over format or red ball cricket from an IPL competition, I think you are making a lot of shortcuts for a lot of these young players to not focus on red ball cricket or 50 over format. Then you are literally walking on the edge,” he concluded.

Under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, KKR has reached the playoffs of the tournament. They will be next seen in action when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday (May 20th).