Gautam Gambhir lashed out at India’s team management for replacing Wriddhiman Saha with Rishabh Pant in the playing XI for the second Test against Australia, scheduled to begin on December 26. He believes that team management is being unfair to both the wicketkeepers.
Wriddhiman Saha featured in the first Test, which was the maiden pink-ball Test against Australia. But he could not prove his case with the bat, scoring nine and four runs in the two innings respectively. He had also dropped an easy catch of Labuschagne in the first innings albeit was not scrutinized for that.
Gautam Gambhir believes that Saha should be backed for one or two more matches to showcase his mettle. He points out that if Pant failed to get runs with the bat, India will have to go back again to Wriddhiman Saha which will make the case even worse.
“It’s unfortunate and Wriddhiman Saha has played just one Test match in this series and he hasn’t done well and gets dropped
“Imagine what happens to Pant if he doesn’t do well in this Test or the third Test. What do you do then? Would you go back to Wriddhiman Saha,” Gambhir questioned on YouTube channel ‘Sports Today’.
It’s been unfair on Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha: Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir suggests that India should back to the players to more extent to make them feel more secure and safe.
“That’s why this team looks so unsettled because no one is secured. Professional sport is all about security. Everyone has talent when they are representing the country,” Gautam Gambhir, known for his frank opinion, said.
“All they want is security and that assurance that we are there to back you, not just by words but by action.”
Gautam Gambhir opines that it is the wrong tactic to pick Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant on the basis of conditions. He said that following this trait has been unfair to both the glovemen.
“Actually, it’s been unfair on Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha both over a long period of time when they have picked and chosen players on conditions. You don’t do that with wicketkeepers. You do that with bowlers,” he fumed.
“In overseas conditions, you play two spinners based on conditions, it’s understandable, but which other teams in the world has chopped and changed wicketkeepers based on conditions. No one apart from India,” Gautam Gambhir maintained.
Meanwhile, India registered an embarrassing defeat in the first Test. They will head to take revenge in the second Test under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane.