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.

হঠাৎ অবসরের সিদ্ধান্ত! বিশ্বকাপের আগে এই তারকাকে নিয়ে চিন্তায় ভক্তরা

Rahul also added, “There’s no need to force yourself if your body can’t keep up. But I still have a lot to give to cricket. So, it’s not the time to say I should retire yet.”

This news has left Indian cricket fans a little anxious, especially with the 2027 World Cup approaching. There’s caution about the possibility of him retiring suddenly.

Rahul’s career stats:

Test: 67 matches, 4,053 runs

ODI: 94 matches, 3,360 runs, average 50.9

T20I: 72 matches, 2,265 runs

At just 33 years old, cricket experts believe retirement at this age is somewhat unnecessary. He still has plenty to contribute on the field. However, the player himself has made it clear, “I am not a superstar, so I will retire quietly. I want to enjoy life outside cricket and spend time with my family.”

Earlier, India’s bowlers restricted South Africa to 270, with Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav taking four wickets each. Prasidh, bouncing back from a quiet start, dismantled South Africa’s middle order, proving his captain KL Rahul and coach Gautam Gambhir’s faith in him was well-placed. Quinton de Kock was the lone standout for the visitors, scoring a brilliant 106.

The victory completed an entertaining ODI series, marked by fluctuating conditions and decisive tosses. KL Rahul, the stand-in captain, made a smart call to bowl first on a dry pitch in Visakhapatnam, unlike the dew-affected second ODI in Raipur where India’s 358 went in vain. India’s bowlers executed the plan perfectly, keeping South Africa under control despite de Kock’s century.

In the chase, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden century and half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli guided India to a comfortable victory. Kohli’s consistent brilliance once again reinforced his status as one of the series’ standout performers.

Virat Kohli wraps the chase in style!

A commanding 9⃣-wicket victory in Vizag

With that, #TeamIndia clinch the ODI series by 2⃣-1⃣

Scorecard https://t.co/HM6zm9o7bm#INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/tgxKHGpB3O

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2025

With the series sealed 2-1, India now looks forward to the upcoming T20I series, starting on 9 November.

নিলামের আগেই এল ‘বিরাট’ আপডেট, এই ক্রিকেটারকে পাচ্ছে না KKR!

According to sources, discussions between Delhi Capitals (DC) and KKR regarding Rahul did take place, but no agreement could be reached. Initially, the Delhi franchise was open to releasing Rahul, but the players they demanded in exchange created a deadlock.

Delhi’s first choice was none other than Sunil Narine, one of KKR’s greatest match-winners. However, KKR made it clear that Narine is not for sale. The franchise has already decided to retain him for the next season as one of their all-time legends.

Delhi then made a second proposal, asking for Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh in exchange for Rahul. The Knight management flatly rejected that as well. As a third option, Delhi asked for Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harshit Rana, but again, KKR refused to part ways with either player.

KKR’s long-term plans reportedly center around Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who shares a close bond with KKR’s new head coach Abhishek Nayar, also his personal coach. Therefore, KKR is not willing to let go of the young batter. Interestingly, Angkrish also has links with JSW, the ownership group of Delhi Capitals — which makes DC even more eager to sign him.

Meanwhile, rumors of Rohit Sharma joining KKR have also been effectively dismissed. A recent Mumbai Indians social media post hinted at it, saying:

“The sun rising tomorrow is certain, but it can never rise at night (Knight).”
The clever wordplay on “Knight” made it clear that Rohit’s move to KKR is virtually impossible.

In another twist, Delhi Capitals are reportedly showing interest in acquiring Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals. If that deal goes through, it could make retaining Rahul even more difficult for them — leaving DC in a dilemma.

All in all, despite all the speculation before the mini-auction, KL Rahul’s move to KKR now seems almost impossible. The Knight Riders appear fully focused on building their future around their young talents rather than pursuing high-profile transfers.