War of attrition: Rohit could be on his way out but Gambhir too isn't safe

War of attrition: Rohit could be on his way out but Gambhir too isn’t safe

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The tensions within Team India’s leadership, particularly between head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma, is not doing any good for anyone, especially the team.

After the loss in Melbourne, sources said that Gambhir informed Rohit he would not be part of the final Test in Sydney. While the official stance was that Rohit “opted to rest,” insiders say this decision was solely Gambhir’s, with board officials choosing not to intervene.

Further fueling speculation, Gambhir declined to confirm Rohit’s inclusion in the Sydney Test during a pre-match press conference, stating, “We are going to have a look at the wicket and announce our playing XI.” In response to these chain of events, Rohit addressed his relationship with Gambhir, stating that both are “very clear” about their roles and emphasizing mutual trust. He noted that while strategic discussions occur off the field, Gambhir trusts his on-field decisions.

These developments have raised concern among selection committee members about the potential implications for future team dynamics, especially regarding the balance of authority between the coach and captain. By undermining the biggest role of the Indian captain, Gambhir has changed the dynamics so drastically that even his position is under scrutiny for thr next six months.

The Indian coach tried similar tactics when he was with Lucknow Super Giants. He called all the shots after initial hiccups. Under his tutelage, LSG played two play-off stages of the season before he moved on to Kolkata Knight Riders — where the team was already set and winning matches. So, he got into their system quite easily.

Therefore, the main challenge for a coach comes when the team isn’t winning. With India excelling in T20s, the presence of an out-of-form Rohit in Tests and ODIs has created all the friction. It has come to a stage that either of them will have to go out. Rohit seems to be the first casualty, Gambhir can’t be left too behind!