The debate surrounding Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's ODI future refuses to die down despite both continuing to deliver for India. While neither head coach Gautam Gambhir nor chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar has publicly committed to their participation in the 2027 World Cup, keeping the speculation around their future alive.

India's recent 1-2 ODI series defeat against England only added fuel to the conversation. Rohit silenced critics with a match-winning century in the series finale, registering his 34th ODI hundred amid speculation that the Lord's fixture could be his final international appearance. Kohli, meanwhile, chipped in with two half-centuries during the series after both senior batters struggled in the opening match.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes there is no need to question Rohit and Kohli's places in the side, but stressed that both must make an immediate impact whenever a series begins instead of taking time to settle.

"That has to be a conversation with everyone, not just them (Kohli and Rohit), that they have to start the series well and hit the ground running. That is a challenge. You can't take one or two games to get into the groove. But that's where the support staff comes in and has conversations with the players by creating an environment to get the best out of everyone," Deep Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.

Dasgupta insisted that the standards applied to the two stalwarts should remain unchanged despite the increasing scrutiny around their careers.

"There is no conversation needed with them about their places in the team. Four years back, it wasn't like they had to be reminded before every series that they would be in the team. They knew they would be in the team based on their performances. So how does that change now? It does not and should not change," he added.
Questions over the future of Rohit and Kohli have surfaced repeatedly since both retired from Test cricket last year, leaving ODIs as their only international format. Before the Lord's ODI against England, reports suggested that the selection committee was considering moving on from Rohit ahead of the 2027 World Cup to create an opening for Yashasvi Jaiswal.

However, the BCCI leadership dismissed reports that the Lord's encounter would be Rohit's final international appearance.

Dasgupta believes the constant speculation is largely because the pair now feature in only one international format, making every ODI performance subject to greater scrutiny.
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"This discussion about their future is getting exaggerated because they play only one format. When you play multiple formats, if you fail in one but score in the other, the failure is forgotten. So that's a challenge for these two that can't be denied. People will remember what they last did in this format because they play only one format. But the conversation with them should be the same as it was three years ago," he added.

#dasgupta #intern

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has firmly rejected rumours over Rohit Sharma's international future, stating there is "no question" of the India opener retiring at this stage despite growing speculation during the recent England tour.

Questions over Rohit's future gathered pace after a prolonged lean patch with the bat, with reports suggesting the third ODI against England at Lord's could potentially be his final appearance for India. However, the 39-year-old answered those doubts in emphatic fashion by smashing 138 off 110 **** , becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at the iconic venue.

Speaking to reporters, Shukla rubbished the retirement rumours and insisted there was no truth to the speculation.

"Rohit Sharma is a part of our team and is continuing to play. The things being circulated in the media and on social media have no meaning. As of now, there is no question of his retirement," Shukla said.

Rohit's century at Lord's also reinforced his own stance on his future. The India opener has consistently maintained that he wants to continue representing the country and remains determined to secure a place in India's squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

In an interview with BCCI.tv after his match-winning innings, Rohit made it clear that outside speculation would not distract him from his responsibilities.

"My job is with the bat. Come and play, represent my country, represent my team. That's what I have been told to do since my debut so that's what I am going to do," Rohit said.

"The noise since I made my debut was there. And till the time I am going to stay here, it is always going to be there. So it doesn't really matter too much. What matters is what I do on the field, try and contribute to the success of the team. That's all my focus is right now. And let the noise be there. If there is no noise, there is no fun."

Shukla also brushed aside calls for changes in India's leadership group following criticism directed at captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the decision on who stays in the team and who does not rests with the selectors. The Indian team is performing well and winning matches, so there is no need for any changes at present," Shukla said.

Although Rohit's century at Lord's was one of the highlights of the tour, India finished the United Kingdom leg on a disappointing note. The visitors lost the ODI series against England 2-1 after earlier suffering a 2-0 defeat to Ireland and a 4-0 loss in the T20I series against England.

#england #noise

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself on the international stage in spectacular fashion during India's first T20I against Zimbabwe on Thursday, becoming the youngest player ever to score a maiden T20I half-century.

The 15-year-old became the youngest player to score a maiden T20I half-century after racing to an 18-ball fifty in Harare. It was a timely response from the teenage batter, who had managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three appearances for India during the T20I series against England.

Following those outings, Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final T20I. His exclusion came amid intense scrutiny over India's selection decisions. Earlier in the England series, Sanju Samson, who had been India's Player of the Tournament during their T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was dropped from the side, with Sooryavanshi brought into the XI. However, for the fifth match, the management reversed course, restoring Samson and leaving out the youngster. Samson was subsequently omitted from India's squad for the Zimbabwe tour.

Former India captain and ex-BCCI selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth admitted he was baffled by the decision to drop Sooryavanshi after only three failures and took aim at head coach Gautam Gambhir over the move.

"He (Sooryavanshi) has an effortless range of shots, yet, not one shot was cross-batted. This boy is really something special. How did Gautam Gambhir foolishly drop him, of all people, after three failures to crush his confidence?" said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

With Gambhir not accompanying the team on the Zimbabwe tour, former India batter VVS Laxman is serving as the side's interim head coach.

Srikkanth also highlighted the youngster's commitment to improvement, revealing that Sooryavanshi immediately returned to work after the England series rather than taking a break.

"I salute Vaibhav for his dedication. After the England series, he didn't go home and instead went straight to the Rajasthan Royals camp. He has been working on his batting against the short ball because he wants to prove to the whole world that he is special," Srikkanth added.

The 1983 World Cup winner was equally impressed by the fearless approach shown by Sooryavanshi despite the pressure of retaining his place in the national side. According to Srikkanth, many young players would have opted for a safer route after a string of low scores, but the teenager remained committed to his attacking game.

"The ease at which he scores at a 250 strike rate is extraordinary. Normally, after three failures, other players would have tried to safeguard their place in the Indian team by taking singles and twos. But he played fearlessly without worrying about the consequences. Scoring a 50 off 18 **** has become child's play for him. That's his greatness," Srikkanth elaborated.

Sooryavanshi's explosive innings not only earned him a place in the record books bu

'Crush his confidence': Kris Srikkanth slams Gautam Gambhir's treatment of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth slammed Gautam Gambhir for dropping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after three low scores.
Teen hits record 18-ball fifty on return, becomes youngest T20I half-century scorer.
Ex-selector praises Sooryavanshi's fearless approach despite the failures.
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has lashed out against head coach Gautam Gambhir for axing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the playing eleven after just three underwhelming innings during the England series.

#crush

'Stop using bits and pieces players': R. Ashwin drops truth bomb on Gautam Gambhir's team selection strategy originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
R Ashwin criticises Gautam Gambhir's reliance on 'bits and pieces' cricketers.
India lost ODI series 2-1 to England to cap off a dismal UK tour.
Ex-spinner wants a fixed 17-18 player pool for the next 14 months.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called on head coach Gautam Gambhir to move away from filling the squad with makeshift all-rounders, as he believes the approach is a genuine concern heading into preparations for next year's ODI World Cup.

#ashwin #gautam #pieces #next

New Delhi: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) may have to work overtime to get the support staff for the Indian team in order after the conclusion of the ongoing England tour. TOI understands that ***** istant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fast bowling coach Morne Morkel are contemplating moving on from their respective roles once their contracts expire after the ODI series in England this month.

"Doeschate isn't very sure of continuing with this job. He has conveyed his problems with travelling with the team throughout the year. Morkel is still weighing his options. The board is discussing the matter with the two coaches and will try to see if things can be sorted out," a BCCI source told TOI.

The Indian team is due to leave for Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in the first week of Aug. Cricket head at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) VVS Laxman will take his CoE coaching staff with him for India's three-match T20I series in Zimbabwe in the last week of July.

Sources said that Doeschate may be in talks with an IPL franchise, while Morkel hasn't said anything firmly yet. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had handpicked these two coaches when he took charge in July 2024. The BCCI has always endorsed support staff coming through its coaching programme at the CoE. Last year, Abhishek Nayar was replaced by Sitanshu Kotak as batting coach.

If things aren't resolved with Doeschate and Morkel, the BCCI may be forced to send Lakshmipathy Balaji, who was recently appointed as the fast bowling coach at the CoE, to Sri Lanka.

Fielding coach under fire

TOI has also learnt that fielding coach T Dilip is under pressure to save his job. The board is not happy with the team's deteriorating fielding standards. Dilip got a reprieve last year after being sacked along with Nayar.

India's batting order was picked apart in Nottingham, as a dominant 125-run defeat to England became the heaviest loss the side has ever suffered in T20 internationals, stretching their winless streak on this UK tour and leaving skipper Shreyas Iyer still chasing his first win since taking charge.
With the fourth T20I in Bristol arriving almost immediately, India have precious little breathing room to process what went wrong before having to fix it.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir acknowledged after the Trent Bridge defeat that his team had struggled to read match conditions accurately, a recurring issue that has undermined their performances throughout this tour.
Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, who together accounted for seven wickets, stuck to a straightforward but effective plan of bowling short of a good length, using extra pace and bounce to unsettle India's batters and force errors consistently.
India will need a smarter, more adaptive response against the same pace pairing if they hope to keep their series-levelling hopes alive.

India vs England 4th T20I 2026 lineups with potential return of Sanju Samson at Bristol originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India face a must-win fourth T20I in Bristol, trailing 0-2 in the series.
Sanju Samson may return, with Tilak Varma's spot under the scanner.
Gautam Gambhir faces pressure to fix the middle-order and avoid series defeat.
With their backs against the wall and a string of selection headaches still unresolved, Shreyas Iyer's India walk into Thursday's fourth T20 international in Bristol knowing anything less than a win could end the series.

'Why such unnecessary comments?': BCCI VC Rajeev Shukla defends Gautam Gambhir over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut delay originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla backs team management over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's delayed debut.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel says dropping World Cup heroes for Sooryavanshi isn't straightforward.
India legends, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, all push for Sooryavanshi's immediate inclusion.
Questions keep swirling around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for a senior India cap, and now BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has stepped into the debate, firmly backing the team management and insisting the 15-year-old will get his chance when the moment is right.

India suffered a shocking 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland, marking the first time they have lost a bilateral T20I series against the Irish side. After dominating the IPL on batting-friendly surfaces, India's young batting unit struggled to adapt to the seamer-friendly conditions in Ireland as the hosts outplayed them in both matches. The result also marked another series defeat for Gautam Gambhir in his tenure as head coach.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes the defeat exposed a flaw in India's team composition rather than just their execution. He argued that India have become overly reliant on batting all-rounders and now urgently need a specialist middle-order batter, also he cites why Shubman Gill should make a comeback in T20I setup.

Taking to X, Manjrekar wrote: "It was too little earlier… under Gambhir, it is too many. The 'all-rounders'. India need a PURE middle-order batter, ****** to!"
— sanjaymanjrekar (sanjaymanjrekar)
During the broadcaster's post-match discussion, Manjrekar further explained that Indian batters must develop the technique to succeed on pitches offering ****** istance to bowlers, instead of relying solely on the flat batting tracks they are accustomed to at home and in the IPL. He cited Shubman Gill as the ideal example of a batter capable of thriving in such conditions and backed the India ODI captain to eventually make a return to the T20I setup.

"Shubman Gill... just for people to understand, this is a guy who is a T20 batter now and had a tremendous IPL as well. I'm not talking about captaincy, but these are the players you slowly want to introduce back into T20 cricket because they have a little more depth in conditions like these and are used to them as well, like we saw when he played in England and overseas," Manjrekar said.

"That is the path for Shubman Gill going forward. It won't happen immediately, but I think you will slowly start seeing him back in India's T20 plans," he added.
— VihanWahi44569 (VihanWahi44569)

'Who is going to be accountable': Manoj Tiwary launches scathing attack on Gautam Gambhir after Ireland series loss originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Manoj Tiwary launched a scathing attack on India's management after the T20I series loss to Ireland.
He warned that PR agencies would shift blame onto Captain Shreyas Iyer rather than the decision-maker.
Tiwary also questioned why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not picked in the XI from the opening game.

'Under Gambhir, it's too many all-rounders': Sanjay Manjrekar says India need a pure middle-order batter after IRE defeat originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India lost the T20I series against Ireland by 0-2, with both losses owing to middle-order batting collapses.
Manjrekar feels that India have used too many all-rounders under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Manjrekar has asked for the inclusion of a "pure middle-order batter".
India's 0-2 T20I series defeat against Ireland brought to fore the frailties in its middle order comprising various all-rounders.

Against expectation and, perhaps, much of the public mood, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut did not happen in Ireland. The 15-year-old batting sensation remained on the bench for the second T20I against Ireland after also missing out in the series opener, even though India had lost the first match by 34 runs.

His omission has surprised many fans and former players. Former England captain Michael Vaughan had said after the first T20I that he "couldn't believe" India left out the teenager.

However, instead of judging the decision, to leave Sooryavanshi out, at face value, it may be worth understanding the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management's thinking behind it.
Before the series, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had made it clear that India did not want to give Sooryavanshi a game by leaving out someone who had already earned his place through performances.

"Vaibhav is very talented, there is no doubt. And the way he has batted in IPL and all the other games, there is no need to tell that he has got a lot of natural abilities. Because in IPL he has faced Jofra, a lot of quick bowlers, a lot of experienced bowlers. And it seems that nothing is bothering him. So he is obviously an extraordinary talent," Kotak had said.

He added, "I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities. So I don't think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs. That also won't be right. I think there is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and you are being unfair to some other player."

Those comments suggest India are backing the players who helped win the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan have all been among the runs, and dropping any of them simply to hand Sooryavanshi a debut could send the wrong message.

There may be another reason too. India could be allowing Sooryavanshi time to understand the dressing-room environment before asking him to walk out in national colours. It is not unusual for young players to spend a few games watching senior players prepare, train and handle pressure before getting their first opportunity.

Captain Shreyas Iyer hinted at the same approach during the toss before the first T20I. Asked if Sooryavanshi would debut, he replied: "Unfortunately, no." He then reassured everyone by adding, "He'll (Sooryavanshi) get his opportunity when the time comes."

That opportunity could now come in England, where India begin a five-match T20I series on Wednesday.

If selected, Sooryavanshi, aged 15 years and 93 days, would become the youngest player to represent India's senior men's team, breaking the record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at 16 years and 205 days in 1989 before making his ODI debut 33 days later.

He would also become the youngest player to feature in a top-tier men's T20 international, surpassing Ireland's Joshua Little, who was 16 years and 309 days old on debut

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to enjoy a bright international future but believes the youngster should take inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar's discipline, focus and mental strength as he prepares for the biggest stage.

Sooryavanshi, 15, is on the verge of creating history during India's ongoing T20I series against Ireland. If he makes his international debut over the next couple of weeks, the left-handed batter will become the youngest player to represent India in men's cricket, surpassing Tendulkar's long-standing record. The batting icon made his debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16, while Sooryavanshi is in line to achieve the milestone a year earlier.

There was considerable anticipation around the teenager's debut in the opening T20I in Belfast on Friday. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer retained the T20 World Cup-winning opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, leaving Sooryavanshi on the bench.

The comparisons with Tendulkar have only intensified since Sooryavanshi's remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, where he amassed more than 700 runs for the Rajasthan Royals. While acknowledging the excitement surrounding the youngster, Vengsarkar urged him to follow the qualities that made Tendulkar a legend of the game.

"When I watched Sachin Tendulkar play, he looked mentally mature for his age. He did extremely well in inter-school tournaments in Mumbai, besides club cricket, where he scored consistently," Vengsarkar told PTI.

“He was mentally prepared to play a higher level of cricket, so that is how we picked him. He was so disciplined, passionate, and focused, and that is a great example for youngsters like Vaibhav to emulate,” he added.

Although Sooryavanshi is still waiting for his maiden international appearance, Vengsarkar believes it is only a matter of time before the teenager gets his opportunity and expects him to make the most of it.

"I am sure he will get the opportunity, and once he gets it, he will grab it with both hands because he is a very good player. He is just unbelievable," Vengsarkar said.

“He has tremendous potential. Some of the shots he plays are unreal. His batsmanship is completely different. He can clear the ground with his bat swing and hand-eye coordination. In T20 format, he has been amazing,” he added.

When asked whether Sooryavanshi possesses the qualities to become a successful Test cricketer, Vengsarkar chose to remain cautious, pointing out that the youngster has largely been judged on his exploits in the shortest format.

“It's very difficult to say because he is currently in the T20 format. I have not seen him play in a longer format,” he said.

“But I'm sure he will do well in that, once picked. We will have to wait and see how he plays in the longer format, which is very important,” Vengsarkar added.

'Team first': R Ashwin defends Gautam Gambhir in keeping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of India lineup vs Ireland in 1st T20I originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Ravichandran Ashwin publicly defended Gautam Gambhir's decision to keep Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of India's first T20I vs Ireland.
He argued in-form openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma should not be dropped to accommodate hype.
Ashwin said sitting out and serving the team is a valuable role for the young prodigy.

Former India and Karnataka fast bowler Dodda Ganesh has criticised the Indian team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, for resting KL Rahul during the third and final ODI against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Rahul, who featured in the first two matches of the three-game series, was left out of the playing XI for the final ODI despite having spent very little time in the middle. The wicketkeeper-batter faced 19 ******* in the series opener, remaining unbeaten on 39 as India secured a seven-wicket win in a rain-curtailed contest. He was then dismissed for a first-ball duck in the second ODI in Lucknow.

With Rahul rested, Ishan Kishan took over wicketkeeping duties in Chennai. However, Kishan did not get an opportunity to bat as India comfortably chased down Afghanistan's total to seal a 3-0 series sweep.

Ganesh questioned the logic behind the decision and took to X to express his frustration.
“KL Rahul didn’t need this rest. He’s played only 20 ******* in the series. Absolutely makes zero sense,” Ganesh wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

India, however, continued their dominant run in the series. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna starred with a maiden five-wicket haul, returning figures of 5-23 in nine overs, as Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs despite captain Hashmatullah Shahidi scoring a fighting 102.

Chasing 219, India made light work of the target through a commanding opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The duo added 170 runs for the first wicket, with Rohit scoring 79 before falling to Mohammad Nabi.

Jaiswal carried on and produced a superb unbeaten 110 off 86 ******* , his second ODI century in just three innings. Shreyas Iyer provided support at the other end as India completed the chase with 128 ******* to spare and secured a nine-wicket victory.

The result also handed India their first ODI series win under captain Shubman Gill, who led from the front in the field with two direct-hit run-outs during Afghanistan's innings.

TimesofIndia. com in Chennai: One of India's biggest concerns in the lead-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup has been their inability to consistently strike in the middle overs. Between overs 20 and 35, when teams often look to consolidate before launching in the death overs, breakthroughs have come only in patches.

The trend has been evident across recent bilateral series. Against Australia, India managed just four wickets in the phase across three matches, while New Zealand exposed the issue further, with India going wicketless in the middle overs in the Rajkot and Indore ODIs, which they eventually lost. South Africa offered a brighter picture as Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna combined for nine wickets across three games.

The Afghanistan series continued the mixed returns. India picked up five wickets in the rain-shortened Dharamsala ODI and another five in Lucknow, but managed only one middle-over wicket in Chennai despite dominating the contest.

Interestingly, with the team management seeming to lose confidence in left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who has been India's genuine wicket-taker in the middle overs, Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill will need to find a solution.

Captain Gill believes the answer lies in India's tall fast bowlers: Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, who he thinks are capable of creating opportunities even when conditions offer little **** istance.

"Honestly, the combination and the kind of bowlers that we are trying to play are part of what we're building. We want to create as many opportunities as we can," Gill told reporters after India sealed a 3-0 win over Afghanistan.

"In that middle phase, we've seen that once the ball gets a little older on a good wicket, with only four fielders outside the circle, batting becomes much easier. That's why we're trying to play bowlers like Prasidh and Harshit. They are tall, fast bowlers who offer us something different.

"At the same time, it's important to give someone like Nitish **** ar Reddy enough overs in the middle, even if we know there might be better options for those conditions who can get us wickets. It's important for players like him to gain confidence going into the World Cup," added Gill.

Gill said India's young fast bowlers are being trained to adapt quickly to different surfaces by identifying the ideal length as early as possible. On red-soil wickets, he wants them to bowl fuller, while black-soil pitches demand slightly shorter lengths.

The emphasis, he said, is on consistently hitting the top-of-off-stump, around the fourth-stump area - the toughest line for batters to score from. India also wants its pacers to use their natural bounce to keep creating wicket-taking opportunities, even if it occasionally results in extra runs.

"It's about **** sing the wicket. Different wickets demand different lengths. On a wicket like this, you have to bowl a little fuller, while on a black-soil wicket, you might h

NEW DELHI: Former India pacer S Sreesanth has once again stirred controversy with strong remarks aimed at some of his former teammates, including Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir.

Sreesanth, who was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup-winning teams, spoke openly during an interview with Lallantop. One of the main talking points was his long-running history with former India spinner Harbhajan.

The two were involved in the infamous IPL 'Slapgate' controversy in 2008 when Harbhajan, then playing for Mumbai Indians, slapped Sreesanth after a match against Kings XI Punjab.

Over the years, it appeared that the two had moved on from the incident.

However, Sreesanth recently expressed his displeasure over Harbhajan featuring in an advertisement that was inspired by the episode.

During the interview, Sreesanth was shown an old photograph of himself and Harbhajan wearing boxing gloves. Looking at the picture, he issued a direct challenge.

"This same scene, do you have the guts? Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Can you sign and come? Can you? I am asking him. Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Wearing these same gloves... This is not acting, I am smiling. You are not even smiling, I don't know what you are doing. Let's see. This is an open challenge," Sreesanth said, looking at the camera.

A day later, Harbhajan shared a cryptic video on Instagram with the caption, "Khali bartaan hi to awaaz karte hain (empty vessels make the most noise)."

In the video, Harbhajan said, "Kisine bohot khub kaha hai ki karne do jo log bakwaas karte hain, hamesha khali bartaan hi to awaaz karte hain."

While Harbhajan did not mention Sreesanth by name, many social media users linked the post to the former pacer's comments.
Sreesanth continued his criticism during the interview and once again invited Harbhajan to settle matters in a boxing ring.

"I challenge you, Bhajji. If you have this much of a problem with the slap incident and me, and you earn this much... let me earn too. Come into the ring. I am calling you from my heart. If we have some self-respect, let's not do ads and all that. In a genuine way, for all the Malayalis and all the Sardars, please come. I am waiting," he said.

NEW DELHI: Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has taken aim at head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying the Indian team needs a mentor rather than a coach and suggesting that someone in the mould of MS Dhoni would be a better fit for the national side.

Speaking on Lallantop, Sreesanth was asked about India's recent struggles in Test cricket. India suffered home Test series defeats to New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, both under Gambhir's tenure as head coach.

Sreesanth did not hold back in his response.

"Change the coach, friend. India needs a mentor, not a coach," Sreesanth said.

The former pacer explained that managing players is about building relationships and understanding them rather than simply demanding results.

"You have to be a brother first. You can't just laugh when you win and get angry when you lose. You've done well for the country, that's great. That doesn't mean others aren't trying. Have a mentor over a coach," he added.

Sreesanth also accused Gambhir of putting too much pressure on players. Drawing a comparison with former India captain MS Dhoni, he argued that successful international teams do not require coaches who burden players with excessive expectations.

According to Sreesanth, India's successful teams in the past were driven by Dhoni's mindset and leadership, and he believes the current setup would benefit from having a mentor with a similar approach.

"I have an issue with the way he coaches. There is too much pressure on the players. At this level, you need a mentor. Dhoni never put players under pressure and then dropped them if things didn't work out," Sreesanth said.

"Team India needs a mentor like Dhoni," Sreesanth said.

The 42-year-old also pushed back against the perception that Gambhir was solely responsible for India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph. He highlighted the contributions of key players, including Sanju Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

"When the team won the World Cup, all the credit went to Gambhir. But if Sanju Samson hadn't been there, Suryakumar Yadav hadn't captained, and the bowling changes hadn't been made at the right time, would we have won the match?" Sreesanth said.

Questioning how much influence a coach can have during a game, he added: "Was the coach making decisions on the field? It's fine if we have a coach like Ashish Nehra, who remains involved."

Since taking charge following Rahul Dravid's exit, Gambhir has overseen contrasting fortunes for India.

The team enjoyed significant success in white-ball cricket, winning the T20 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup under Gambhir's tenure. However, a string of disappointing results in Test cricket, both at home and overseas, has put India's red-ball setup under scrutiny and sparked debate over the team's direction in the longest format.

TimesofIndia.com in Lucknow: It is no secret that Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir is a strong believer in the left-right batting combination.

The foundation of India's T20I template has been built around that principle. With Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma in the top six, India have multiple southpaws to disrupt bowling plans. In contrast, the ODI setup has largely been dominated by right-handers. Even during the Champions Trophy, the team management was forced to promote Axar Patel to No. 5 to break that monotony.

Multiple discussions have occurred about injecting some left-handers into the mix but the batting unit has maintained a settled look since the 2023 ODI World Cup. There were some movements based on the game situation but right-handers have been the flavour. After the high of the Champions Trophy, India lost ODI series against Australia and South Africa and Virat Kohli's injury opened up an opportunity to shake things up a bit.

The thinktank wasted no time: Ishan Kishan walked in at No. 3 in the rain-curtailed ODI in Dharamsala and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened with Rohit Sharma, forcing Gill to come in at one drop, for the second contest in Lucknow.

While the left-right combination at the top didn't work as Jaiswal was dismissed cheaply, Gill and Kishan stitched together a 224-run stand for the third wicket. The partnership had everything: elegant strokeplay, towering sixes, relentless running between the wickets and complete domination of the opposition attack. Across 140 deliveries, the pair offered a compelling glimpse into what India's batting blueprint for the 2027 ODI World Cup could look like.

The heat was relentless and played a significant role in shaping India's innings. Temperatures remained above 40 degrees Celsius throughout, with players visibly struggling to cope. Although three official drinks breaks were scheduled, batters repeatedly called for fluids between overs and even wore ice packs around their necks. The duo battled cramps, and the Indian captain appeared completely drained by the time his innings ended.
Despite the unforgiving conditions, they gave the 13,000 spectators at the Ekana Stadium plenty to cheer about. Those who braved the extreme heat were treated to a batting exhibition of the highest quality.

After his Player of the Match-winning effort in the first ODI, Gill once again stamped his authority with a magnificent 154 off 110 ******* , studded with 22 fours and two sixes. It was also his maiden ODI century as India's captain.

Gill was at his dominant best. After Jaiswal's early dismissal, he walked in and picked up exactly where he had left off in Dharamsala. His cover drives were regal, while his flicks, cuts and pulls showcased the full range of his strokeplay.

India's highest stands in ODIs for third wicket:
237* runs - Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar in 1999
233* runs - Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in 2023
224 runs - Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli in 200

India lock horns with Afghanistan in a one-off Test match at the New PCA Cricket Stadium in Mullan, New Chandigarh.
The two sides have met only once in Test matches in the historic game in 2018, when Afghanistan made their debut as a Test nation. Back then, India had comfortably won the one-off game.
India's performance in Test matches has been far from ideal under Gautam Gambhir's tutelage as they are yet to win a Test series against a major opponent.
In fact, since Gambhir arrived as the head coach, India have lost two home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa and both were whitewashes.

India will lock horns with Afghanistan in a one-off Test match at the New PCA Cricket Stadium in Mullan, New Chandigarh.
The two sides have met only once in Test matches in the historic game in 2018, when Afghanistan made their debut as a Test nation. Back then, India had comfortably won the one-off game.
India's performance in Test matches has been far from ideal under Gautam Gambhir's tutelage as they are yet to win a Test series against a major opponent.
In fact, since Gambhir arrived as the head coach, India have lost two home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa and both were whitewashes.

TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: The challenge before KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan was not Afghanistan's bowling attack. It was the transition from two months of relentless T20 cricket back to the demands of Test cricket. One had to rediscover patience after a prolific IPL campaign, while the other had to justify the faith placed in him by the team management. By stumps on Day 1, both had passed their respective tests. Rahul ground his way to a hard-fought century, and Sai produced a fluent 81 as India took control of the one-off Test.

For three straight days in the lead-up, KL Rahul spent hours at the nets under the sweltering sun. Even a day before the Test, when training was optional, only three batters turned up: KL Rahul was one of them. Throughout those sessions, one thing stood out: Rahul was trying to play closer to his body and shed the habits of T20 batting. However, unlike most of his teammates, the turnaround was not as abrupt for 34-year-old. Delhi Capitals played their last league game on May 17, more than two weeks before India's Test squad ******* embled in Chandigarh.

But red-ball cricket brings its own challenges, especially after two months of non-stop T20 cricket.

At the start of his innings, Rahul looked rusty. Credit to Afghanistan's new-ball bowlers, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and Azmatullah Omarzai, who made the most of whatever little there was to extract from the surface. The duo bowled a disciplined length and asked probing questions of both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rahul.

Jaiswal was put down by Abdul Malik at gully when the left-hander was on 11 off Omarzai's bowling. However, he failed to make the most of the reprieve before Saleem Safi strangled him down the leg side.

Rahul struggled for timing through most of the opening session but managed to survive. His frustration was visible as he searched for rhythm. The muscle memory of attacking cricket briefly took over and, in an attempt to break the shackles, he tried a back-foot cut off Ziaur Rahman. There was a definite nick. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, standing at second slip, was convinced, but failed to persuade captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who decided against taking the DRS.

Barring that gift, Rahul looked solid. Afghanistan's bowlers kept probing and their spinners extracted some bounce as well. Once the early moisture disappeared, Rahul looked increasingly comfortable against spin. Soon after the lunch break, he completed his half-century following an 86-ball grind.

Rahul found an able partner in Sai Sudharsan at the other end. The pair added 139 runs for the second wicket.

If Rahul looked rusty, Sudharsan, who was preferred ahead of Devdutt Padikkal, made the most of his opportunity with a polished 81. On the eve of the Test, Gautam Gambhir had said that Sai would get a "longer rope" and that the management had complete faith in him to succeed at No. 3.

Sai got off to a brisk start with a couple of crisp flicks but was dropped twice, on 18 and 59.

Lef

India will lock horns with Afghanistan in a one-off Test match at the New PCA Cricket Stadium in Mullan, New Chandigarh.
The two sides have met only once in Test matches in the historic game in 2018, when Afghanistan made their debut as a Test nation. Back then, India had comfortably won the one-off game.
India's performance in Test matches has been far from ideal under Gautam Gambhir's tutelage as they are yet to win a Test series against a major opponent.
In fact, since Gambhir arrived as the head coach, India have lost two home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa and both were whitewashes.

NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his weight behind the ICC's new regulation allowing the use of a pink ball under floodlights in red-ball matches interrupted by bad light, calling it a "proactive" and "positive" move that could prevent teams from being denied crucial results.

Speaking ahead of India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, Gambhir said the game's administrators must do everything possible to ensure that matches reach a conclusion, especially when stakes are high.

"I love that. In fact, I've always believed that if there's an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity," Gambhir said when asked about the rule change.

The India coach pointed to the World Test Championship and the possibility of teams missing out on qualification because of weather-related interruptions.

"Imagine if you're playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match and qualify. And if because of bad light it's not happening, I'm all for it," he explained.

'How unfair could that be?'

Gambhir acknowledged that switching from a red ball to a pink ball during a Test could pose challenges for players, but felt the larger objective of preserving results outweighed the difficulties.

"I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players playing the Test match. But imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final. If you don't play five days because of bad luck, how unfair could that be?" he said.

"So I think it's a proactive move. It's a positive move and hopefully the teams will start taking it in a positive way," he added.

'Every player values Test cricket'

Gambhir also dismissed the notion that one individual or a handful of players could revive Test cricket, insisting that every generation of cricketers has attached immense value to the format.

"I don't give it. Everyone gives it. Test cricket cannot survive or revive because of an individual," he said. "Everyone in the dressing room gives it importance. All the players who have played before me, who will play after me, everyone wants to do well in Test cricket."

The former India opener stressed that every Test carries equal significance, regardless of opposition or World Test Championship implications.

"There are a lot of young players in the dressing room and they should value every Test match. Very few people get the opportunity to play Test cricket and it is a great honour to represent India in this format," he added.
To minimise time lost because of bad light, the ICC has approved a trial that allows teams to switch from the traditional red ball to a pink ball and continue play under floodlights.

However, the change cannot be enforced by the umpires. Both teams must agree to the switch before the start of the match. If poor natural light interrupts play and the venue has adequa