Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar said it would have been Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel’s call to appoint Shubman Gill as the new ODI captain. Gill took over the ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia.
Bangar highlighted that head coach Gautam Gambhir might not have had much say in the leadership role discussion. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said it was difficult for them to have three different captains for three different formats and they appointed Gill as the new skipper while keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.
Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports, “As far as I know, it cannot be the coach’s call. The coach has to work with the team he has got. It’s not about the coach’s comfort. The coach has to adjust to the team. It’s not the other way round. That’s how it happens in cricket. You have a highly capable batter in Shubman Gill. He has age on his side and has an experience of 5-6 years in international cricket. So, I think it is the selectors who have taken the call.”
On the other hand, former Indian wicket-keeper bat Parthiv Patel backed the selectors’ decision to have two captains for three formats as it is not easy for head coach Gautam Gambhir to work with three different skippers.
He said, “It’s an absolutely fair call. Coach Gautam Gambhir also mentioned in his interview that people need to think about me also. We have been thinking that the team is of the captain but the way coaches work these days, the effort that goes behind the scenes. It’s not easy for them to work with captains, who may have different philosophies, especially if they are not even travelling together. Shubman Gill is one player who travels with the team in all formats. It is not easy to plan and keep communicating. I’m with Gautam Gambhir at this time when he said he needed only two captains and not three.”
The second ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
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