Gautam Gambhir, India’s new head coach, believes cricketers should play all three formats of the game — Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20Is. He expressed this view in his first interview since taking up the role.
Gambhir thinks that if a player is talented, they should participate in all formats instead of specializing in just one. He mentioned that some players, like Hardik Pandya, have been focusing less on Test cricket. Pandya, known for his skills in limited-overs cricket, hasn’t played a Test match since 2018 despite being part of 11 Tests previously.
Regarding concerns about injuries from playing all formats, Gambhir feels players shouldn’t avoid any format due to injury risks. He believes injuries are a normal part of a sportsperson’s career, and recovery is possible with proper management.
Gambhir’s coaching tenure begins with India’s upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka later this month. He emphasized that top players aspire to excel in all formats and shouldn’t be limited to just one type of cricket.
He also expressed a dislike for labeling players based on their format preferences or managing them solely to prevent injuries. Gambhir believes professional cricketers have a short career span and should play as much as possible while in top form.
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