Important to stay in present: Gambhir backs Ro-Ko for successful Australia tour

India head coach Gautam Gambhir offered a straightforward response when questioned about the ODI future of veteran duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, insisting that the team’s focus must remain on the present rather than on the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Speaking after India’s 2-0 Test series win over West Indies here, Gambhir said he expected the senior pair to make a strong impact in the upcoming ODI tour of Australia, starting October 19 in Perth.

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Kohli and Rohit, both of whom have stepped away from Tests and T20Is, are set to return to action in the three-match ODI series under the leadership of Shubman Gill. Kohli arrived in the national capital early Tuesday and will join the squad before the team departs for Australia on Wednesday.

“Look, ODI World Cup is still about two and a half years away and I think it is very important to stay in the present. Obviously, there are quality players coming back and their experience is going to be helpful in Australia as well. Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful tour,” Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.

The tour of Australia marks the beginning of a busy stretch for India, with five T20Is to follow and an all-format home series against South Africa lined up for November and December. With players constantly switching between formats, Gambhir stressed on the importance of preparation and match readiness through domestic cricket.

“In fact, I was thinking when I was coming for this press conference that it is tough on players, especially as we are playing all the three formats. But I thought that the best thing that happened in this series was the way the Test guys prepared actually before the series, going to play the India A game against Australia A was very, very important. Playing Ranji Trophy before the South Africa series is going to be equally important as well,” he noted.

Gambhir praised the current group for their commitment to preparation, adding that their approach was visible in India’s recent Test performances.

“I thought that is something which this group of players have done exceptionally well. They are preparing themselves really well for the Test series and that is where you could see the results as well. So, for me, I think sometimes it is difficult but that is what professionalism is all about.

“Try and use the days to the best of their ability because we know that there are very quick turnarounds, especially from here to one-day cricket and T20 cricket and then what, after four days, back to Test cricket. But again, the guys who are just part of Test cricket, I think for them to prepare and play domestic cricket is very, very important, rather than just going to NCA and working on their skills, I think the more they play for the Test matches, it is very important for them,” he added.

When asked whether the relentless travel and constant format switches could be a concern for him as head coach, especially with major events like the T20 World Cup, World Test Championship Final, and ODI World Cup on the horizon, Gambhir said he accepts that the role comes with constant scrutiny.

“When are you called as a good coach? Because you are judged by the results. This is the harsh reality of my job and profession. When you play, you can control a lot of things. You can make a run, take wickets and don’t get the criticism even if the team loses. But in my hands, if you don’t get the results, I will face the criticism,” Gambhir said.

Slams Kris Srikanth for targeting Harshit Rana

Gambhir bluntly termed it “shameful” on the part of former India opener player and ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth, who claimed that fast-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana was selected for the upcoming ODI series in Australia due to his personal rapport with Gambhir.

Srikkanth made the comments on his YouTube channel earlier this month, suggesting that Rana’s inclusion was less about merit and more about proximity, referring to his time with Gambhir, who was the mentor at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) before becoming India’s head coach in July 2024.

“Look, it’s a little shameful, and I will be very honest with you. It is so unfair that you are targeting a 23-year-old kid for the sake of your YouTube channel because ultimately, his father is not an ex-chairman or an ex-cricketer or an NRI. No matter how much he plays cricket, he plays on his own strengths and will continue to play on his own merit. If you target someone individually, that is not fair,” he said.

“You can target people’s performance, and there are selectors and coaches who target people’s performance. But if you say such things to a 23-year-old kid, and then social media amplifies it even more, or you are told more of these things in such a way on social media, imagine the mindset. In the future, someone can target your kid, too. Someone can target anyone. At least you can realise that he is a 20-year-old kid, not a 30 or 33-year-old,” he added.