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According to Gambhir, India has picked the best squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia, which is set to start on November 22 in Perth.
India’s Head Coach Gambhir Defends Team Selection For Border-Gavaskar Trophy. (Picture Credit: AFP, PTI)
Indian men’s cricket team head coach has defended India’s team selection for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia by saying that the selectors have picked the best squad. Questions were raised about the inclusion of Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 18-member squad, despite them being very new to international cricket. In fact, Harshit is yet to make his international debut for India, and Nitish has only played three T20Is.
Many former greats and experts of the game feel that India should have picked Cheteshwar Pujara in the squad, and there were reports of a rift between Gambhir and other members of team management over the selection of two uncapped youngsters as well, but the head coach has backed the players and expressed confidence in them to do the job Down Under.
While speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Monday (November 11), ahead of the Indian team’s departure for Australia, Gambhir said, “We have picked the best squad who can do the job for us.”
“I think, Nitish Reddy, we all know how incredibly talented he is, and if given an option, he will deliver for us. And it’s also about moving forward. I feel that it’s the best set of players that we have selected to do the job for the country,” he added.
Nitish made his T20I debut for India against Bangladesh in Gwalior last month and won the Player of the Match award in the second match played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for his all-round show. He has played 23 First Class matches so far and has 779 runs and 56 wickets to his name.
He was part of India A’s playing XI in both the unofficial Tests against Australia A and scored 0, 17, 16, and 38 runs in four innings. He also rolled in arms in all four innings but was only able to take one wicket.
Harshit, on the other hand, has travelled with India’s ODI and T20I sides in the past but didn’t get a chance to play any atches. The 22-year-old Delhi pacer has 43 wickets to his name in 10 First Class matches played so far.
