Tokyo: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended the team management’s approach to selection, saying short-term failures should not lead to sudden changes in the T20I side.
Gambhir revealed that dropping Sanju Samson during India’s T20I series in England was one of the most difficult selection decisions of his coaching tenure. Samson, who had been named Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup triumph, was left out after the opening match, with teenage batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi handed his T20I debut.
Gambhir said the decision affected him personally and that he struggled to sleep that night.
“In two years of my journey, that was the only night I could not sleep,” Gambhir said in an interview with JioStar.
The India coach explained that Suryavanshi’s form and the team’s requirement for runs at the top of the order were behind the decision.
He said he had a direct conversation with Samson before the change and made it clear that the selection was based on what the management believed was the best combination to win the series.
Gambhir also stressed that Suryavanshi’s impressive form did not automatically guarantee him a permanent place in the playing XI.
Gambhir: Social Media Does Not Pick India’s XI
Gambhir said selection decisions cannot be driven by outside opinion or social-media pressure.
According to him, the coach and captain have to determine which combination gives India the best chance of winning a particular match, while also considering the contributions of players who have performed consistently over a longer period.
He argued that dropping established performers after a few failures could undermine the sense of security within the dressing room.
Gambhir said India’s management had therefore opted to maintain continuity with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma while asking younger players such as Suryavanshi to wait for their opportunities.
He acknowledged that leaving out a talented youngster can be difficult, but said making unpopular decisions is sometimes necessary when determining the strongest combination.
Gambhir Praises Shreyas Iyer’s Selflessness
Gambhir also spoke highly of T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, whom he worked with during Kolkata Knight Riders’ successful IPL 2024 campaign.
The India coach recalled how Iyer was willing to move from his usual No. 4 position if the team’s requirements demanded it.
For Gambhir, that willingness to put the team’s interests ahead of personal preferences is one of the defining qualities of a leader.
He described selflessness as an important characteristic for a captain, alongside discipline, hard work and fitness.
Gambhir believes Iyer possesses those qualities and can carry them forward in his leadership journey with India.
‘It Didn’t Take Them 17 Years’
Gambhir also urged people to look at India’s recent T20I record in the context of a longer period rather than reacting to individual defeats or poor matches.
Defending the core of India’s T20I side, he pointed to the team’s success in major tournaments and argued that a few disappointing games should not immediately trigger wholesale changes.
“It didn’t take these guys 17 years to win the second World Cup. It took these guys only 17 months to win the third World Cup,” Gambhir said.
His comments came ahead of India’s home season, which includes three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies.
The message from the India coach was clear: selection decisions will continue to be based on team combination, recent form and longer-term performances rather than external pressure or short-term reactions.
