Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI)
Without getting into the specifics Nehra pointed out that Gambhir should have focused on adding fresh faces instead of playing big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Former India pacer Ashish Nehra has expressed his dislike for Gautam Gambhir’s approach in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Following the end of the second ODI, Nehra was asked on Sony Sports if he expected the head coach to make any changes to the team’s playing XI. Without getting into the specifics Nehra pointed out that Gambhir should have focused on adding fresh faces instead of playing big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. “It was a good opportunity for him to try out the new players, and Rohit and Kohli could play when the home season begins. I’m not saying it is a wrong approach, but it could have been one of the strategies in this series,” he said as per multiple outlets.
Speaking further in the interview, Ashish Nehra explained that players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli could have joined the team later. “The next series India play is 2-3 months later, a rare thing for us. So for players like Rohit and Kohli. I feel there was a better chance of giving opportunities to other players during this series,” he added.
Ashish Nehra also talked about how Gautam Gambhir’s arrival to team India is still quite fresh. Hence, he understands why the coach would want to spend time with the star players. Nehra felt it was not like the coach did not know Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at all. “I know Gambhir is a new coach, and he wants to spend some time with the experienced players, but it isn’t like he doesn’t know the two of them. He is not a foreign coach who wants to get his equation right with Kohli and Rohit,” he explained.
Team India is currently aiming to avoid an ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka. India are scheduled to compete in one more series in this format ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy. That ODI series will be played against England in February next year. As for their ongoing ODI series, India are set to compete in one last game against Sri Lanka. The ODI series decided will be played tomorrow, August 7.
