Kolkata: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has finally addressed the speculation surrounding the decision to remove Rishabh Pant from the role of Test vice-captain and hand the responsibility to KL Rahul.
Read Bengali: পন্থ নন কেন রাহুল সহ-অধিনায়ক? অবশেষে কারণ জানালেন গম্ভীর
Speaking to reporters ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan national cricket team, Gambhir made it clear that performance for the country matters more than leadership positions. His comments also hinted strongly that the team management currently sees Sai Sudharsan as a leading option for the crucial No. 3 batting slot.
Pant Removed, Rahul Gets Leadership Role
When India announced the squad for the Afghanistan Test, many were surprised to see Pant no longer serving as vice-captain under skipper Shubman Gill. Instead, the role was handed to the experienced KL Rahul.
The move immediately sparked debate within the cricket fraternity. Several experts and fans questioned whether Pant’s recent performances had influenced the decision.
India’s disappointing Test series against South Africa had already brought criticism toward Pant’s batting approach. Many former cricketers felt his overly aggressive style in key situations hurt the team at important moments.
Gambhir Defends Pant’s Style
However, Gambhir downplayed the controversy and insisted that leadership titles should not define a player’s value.
According to him, the biggest responsibility for any cricketer is to contribute to the team’s success while representing the country. He stressed that players, coaches and support staff are ultimately judged by performances on the field.
Gambhir also clarified that the Indian team does not want Pant to completely change his natural attacking game.
He described aggression as one of Pant’s greatest strengths but added that international cricket also demands game awareness and maturity. Knowing when to attack and when to remain patient is equally important at the highest level.
The India coach said successful cricketers must understand match situations, team requirements and opposition strengths before deciding their approach.
Sai Sudharsan Emerging as Preferred No. 3
Apart from the vice-captaincy discussion, Gambhir’s comments also generated fresh interest around India’s batting order.
The biggest question remains who will bat at No. 3 against Afghanistan.
From Gambhir’s statements, it appears the team management wants to continue backing Sai Sudharsan. The coach believes the young batter has not yet received enough opportunities at the international level to fully showcase his talent.
Gambhir also suggested that judging a player based on only a handful of matches would be unfair.
Sudharsan’s consistent performances in domestic cricket and franchise tournaments over the past season have reportedly impressed both selectors and the coaching staff.
Devdutt Padikkal Also In Contention
Meanwhile, Devdutt Padikkal has also remained in strong form and continues to push his case with regular runs in domestic cricket.
Still, Gambhir’s latest remarks indicate that Sai Sudharsan currently holds a slight advantage in the race for the No. 3 position ahead of the Afghanistan Test.
With India preparing for another important red-ball assignment, interest around the team’s final playing XI has now increased even further.
