"I Don’t Care About the Critics": Gautam Gambhir Shuts Down Selection Backlash
Dubai [UAE], March 5: Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has hit back at critics questioning his team selections and batting order decisions, stating that he only cares about being honest to the 1.4 billion Indian fans and his players.
Following India’s commanding four-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal, Gambhir was asked about the backlash surrounding his choices—particularly favoring KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper and fast-tracking young pacer Harshit Rana into the squad. His response? He “doesn’t care” about outside opinions.
At the post-match press conference, Gambhir was direct in his response to the criticism:
“I don’t care about it. I don’t even care about it, honestly. My job is to be honest to 140 crore Indians and my players in the dressing room. I don’t care what people say—whether they have agendas or not. If I’m honest about my job, that is all that matters, and I can sleep in peace.”
This strong statement reflects Gambhir’s no-nonsense approach, reinforcing that his decisions are based purely on the team’s best interests rather than external pressures.
One of the biggest talking points of India’s campaign has been Axar Patel’s promotion to No. 5. The move raised eyebrows initially, but Axar has delivered consistently, scoring 69 runs in two matches.
In the semifinal against Australia, Axar played a crucial knock of 27 off 30 balls, stabilizing the chase with a well-timed boundary and a six. Gambhir defended the move, saying:
“We don’t care what people say. Axar is a quality player, and this is how cricket is meant to be played. We will continue backing him at No. 5 because we know his ability. His contributions have been solid, and people can keep talking about it—but it’s about what we want as a team.”
Gambhir made it clear that the team strategy takes priority over individual roles, and Axar’s role at No. 5 is here to stay.
Another major criticism has been KL Rahul’s batting position at No. 6 instead of a spot higher. Gambhir, however, sees this as a tactical decision to add batting depth.
“Numbers don’t matter in a team sport. It’s about the impact you create. KL has embraced this role, and he has done it really well at No. 6. People keep questioning it, but it gives us more depth and allows us to play the way we want to.”
He further emphasized that India’s batting order is designed to maximize team impact, rather than sticking to conventional positions.
After overcoming Australia, India is set to play the final on Sunday, aiming to reclaim the Champions Trophy title. With Gambhir’s strong backing of his strategic selections and batting order, the Men in Blue will head into the final with confidence and clarity.
Gautam Gambhir, India vs Australia, ICC Champions Trophy, Champions Trophy 2025, Team India, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Cricket News, Indian Cricket, ICC Knockout
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