India’s Struggle Ahead: Ex-Selector Coldly Critiques as Gambhir and Gill Lead the Transition

Kiran More, who previously served as the chairperson of selectors, has delivered a stern caution to head coach Gautam Gambhir before the forthcoming five-Test match series between India and England scheduled to start on June 20. According to More, it could take up to two years for the present Indian team to develop into a strong Test squad; therefore, he emphasized that young players should be given time to grow.

Ajit Agarkar, the Chairman of Selectors, unveiled an 18-player Indian team roster for the upcoming matches versus England on Saturday afternoon. Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain, with Rishabh Pant serving as his vice-captain.

After
Rohit Sharma
and
Virat Kohli
Since retiring from Test cricket, numerous young players have been given opportunities in the main team. It’s yet to be determined who will take the No. 4 spot following Kohli’s departure.

Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran,
Karun Nair
Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav have received call-ups for the tour of England. The team management has decided to select a younger squad for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, starting with the series against India.

Moreover, More added a sarcastic remark, suggesting India might require three to four opening batsmen during their series against England. He anticipates that the preferred top-order players may struggle, as playing conditions in the UK can be challenging for batsmen to thrive.

“You will require about 3 to 4 opening batsmen for this tour since you’ll be playing in England. I do not anticipate any miraculous performances during this tour as I believe India might face some challenges,” More stated on the ‘Follow The Blues’ program prior to announcing India’s squad for the England series.

“I believe it will take India about two years to develop into a strong Test team,” he said.

More Questions for Agarkar and Gambhir

During the same program, Kiran More likewise challenged Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir about their approach to postponing the shift. He pointed out that the leadership should have planned ahead for a future without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, taking into account the outcomes of recent matches.

“I’m taken aback. The entire selection committee and the coach should have anticipated this, knowing that such a transition was imminent. It seems everyone only became aware of it recently, prompting them to wonder who should take over as the new captain. We ought to have been ready well ahead of time. In my view, we’ve failed to prepare for the past 18 months; this is indeed a significant wake-up call for all of us,” he remarked.

Earlier this month, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma declared their intentions to retire from Test cricket. Both players have struggled with their performances in the longer version of the game for quite a while now, leading them to end their Test careers before the upcoming series against England.

In the team announcement, Ajit Agarkar disclosed that Kohli reached out to him in April to notify him of his decision to retire from Tests.

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