Gautam Gambhir addresses criticism of not playing two key players in ENG vs IND 2025 Tests

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up on receiving criticism for not playing Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav in five Test matches against England. Singh was set to make his debut in the fourth Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester but he was ruled out due to injury.

India not using Kuldeep Yadav for even one Test match was baffling as he had an impressive record against England. Against England, Kuldeep has bagged 21 wickets in six Test matches at an impressive average of 22.28.

Gambhir is known to back batting depth in Test cricket and thus the team backed Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the final XI.

“That is probably the toughest part of me as a coach. I think that is the toughest job I have. When I know there is so much so much of quality sitting on the bench, and everyone deserves to be part of the playing XI, but ultimately you can pick only XI, thinking which is the best combination to do the job on that particular day,” Gambhir said in an interview with the BCCI.

The former Indian opener said communicating with his players is very important for him regarding their respective places.

“The most important for me, is the conversation and the communication. The communication needs to be very clear, very honest. Sometimes those are hard conversations to have. If you tell someone that he is not playing, it is probably the toughest conversation for a coach, and a player as well. Because I know that the player would get upset, when he deserves to be part of the playing XI. But, if you are honest and straightforward, if you know that what you are saying is from the heart, and there is nothing beyond that, some players do understand that. It is a communication between a player and a coach, and I think it should stay till there (only), rather than people making a lot of outcry and different theories about it,” Gambhir elaborated.

Gambhir highlighted it is imperative for them to use players, who are playing consistently in all three formats, with guile, keeping their workload in mind.

“The guys who are playing all three formats, we have got to be very smart in how we use them, because there should not be a burnout. For example, someone like a Kuldeep or Bumrah, or a Shubman, Washi, or Axar, all these guys are playing all three formats. So, we need to be very smart in how much we want to use them. Switching formats is tough, imagine now in four days’ time we have a Test match starting at 9 in the morning, facing Rabada or Jansen after an Australia tour,”

India will next take on South Africa in a two-match Test series.