BGT 2024-25: Gautam Gambhir calls for more participation in domestic cricket after test series loss in Australia

Gautam Gambhir asks players to give importance to domestic cricket.

Following India’s 3-1 loss in the BGT 2024-25, which was India’s first test series loss to Australia since 2014/15, head coach Gautam Gambhir has asked for his players to participate in domestic cricket whenever they are available.

India lost their grip on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they had held since 2017 with four consecutive series wins, including twice on Australian shores.

While they did start this series with a win in Perth, it was possible only due to Jasprit Bumrah’s sensational first-innings spell after the team had been bowled out for 150.

From the second test onwards, Australia dominated most parts of the series. Indian batsmen faltered throughout while their bowlers kept bringing the side back into the contest. Out of nine innings, India managed to post more than 200 only twice.

They have the commitment to play red-ball cricket: Gautam Gambhir

Seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and even Shubman Gill, who is now into his fifth year in test cricket, were a letdown for the majority of the series. They dealt with technical and temperamental issues.

Amid this slump of form of the Indian batsmen – previously, India lost 3-0 to New Zealand at home, being bundled by the likes of Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, and Ajaz Patel – Gambhir has asked for them to play red-ball domestic cricket whenever they are not playing for India.

“I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket. That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game. If they’re available and they have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. As simple as it can get,” Gambhir said in the post-match press conference on Sunday in Sydney.

“If you don’t give importance to domestic cricket, you will never get the desired players what you want in Test cricket.”

Kohli last played in domestic cricket in 2012, Rohit in 2016, and Pant in 2017.

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