Gautam Gambhir opens up on working with Virat Kohli

Newly designated Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar held their first joint press meeting on Monday. During the conference, they highlighted their vision and recent strategic decisions for the national team. 

Gambhir communicated his underlying commitment to advance the Indian side, accentuating that the team’s success is more crucial than any personal feud or ambitions. He praised the achievements of his predecessor, Rahul Dravid and pledged to continue upon the team’s legacy of noteworthy achievements. 

The conference also noted Gambhir’s relationship with Virat Kohli. 

“Everything with Virat Kohli is not for TRP. Right now, our focus is on representing India and its 1.4 billion citizens,” Gambhir stated.

“While we enjoy an excellent off-field relationship, the details of our private conversations are not for public consumption. What matters is that he conducts himself as a true professional, and we hope he will continue to do so,” he added.

Ajit Agarkar described the leadership and selection process made by the team, such as appointing Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I skipper and resting allrounder Ravindra Jadeja for the Sri Lanka series. 

“Suryakumar Yadav is the most deserving guy and that’s why he have trusted him with the captaincy. The feedback from the dressing room has been highly positive, citing his exceptional cricketing mind, world-class T20 batting skills, and his likelihood of featuring in all the games,” Agarkar explained.

“Hardik is a rare player with great and valuable skills. However, his fitness has been a persistent challenge. Recognizing the need for a player who is consistently available, the team identified Surya as possessing the necessary qualities to thrive as a captain,” he added.