All Is Not Well in Team India: Gambhir Wanted Pujara for Australia Tour, Conflict Between Selection Committee and Coach!

All Is Not Well in Team India: Gambhir Wanted Pujara for Australia Tour, Conflict Between Selection Committee and Coach!

Cheteshwar Pujara, with an average of 43.60 from 103 Test matches, has been a key figure in India’s past two series victories in Australia.

There has been significant disagreement regarding the selection of players for Team India’s Australia tour, and this conflict has now been revealed through a recent report.

According to the report, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir did not align with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the team selection and playing strategies.

After India’s defeat in the 4th Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne, Gambhir was reportedly frustrated with his team’s approach to the game. Following this, the report indicates that Gambhir was in favor of reintroducing Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara into the squad for the Australia tour.

Indian Express reported that there had been growing dissent within the Indian dressing room, leading to unrest regarding the team selection.

THINGS ARE NOT GOOD AT THE INDIAN CAMP 📢

– Gambhir wanted Pujara in BGT but Selectors denied.
– Gambhir lost his cool after the MCG defeat and said “I’ve had enough” in the dressing room.
– Gambhir accused some players of denying the team’s plan in the name of “Natural Game”.
-… pic.twitter.com/OmkwQOsINq

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) January 1, 2025

The report claims that Gambhir repeatedly requested the selection committee to bring Pujara back into the squad ahead of the first Test in Perth. However, his appeals were ignored by the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar. Even after India’s victory in the Perth Test, Gambhir continued to push for Pujara’s inclusion, but his requests were not heeded.

Pujara, with an average of 43.60 and 103 Test caps, played a crucial role in India’s previous series wins in Australia. However, he was not included in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final, where India faced Australia.

The internal struggles and conflicts within the Indian cricket team have been clearly evident in this series. Notably, before the series, Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood remarked on Pujara’s absence from the squad, which drew attention.

Gambhir’s Troubles Continue: Tension with Selection Committee Over Australia Tour Squad

Gambhir’s tenure has been marred by several issues. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor was reportedly at odds with the selectors and leadership when deciding the team for the Australia series. Specifically, there were disagreements over the inclusion of players like Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar, with the final decisions not gaining unanimous support in the Indian dressing room.

Reports suggest that Gambhir expressed his frustration over the failure of players to implement plans effectively during the series.

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