BGT 2024-25: India head coach Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara in squad but selectors denied - Reports

Gautam Gambhir became India’s head coach on July 9, 2024.

Indian batting has been struggling in test cricket for the last six months. Once considered the best in the world, India’s batting has struggled on five out of seven occasions in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

The cracks in the Indian batting were exposed by New Zealand, who made history by handing India their first-ever whitewash defeat in a home test series.

Spinners Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, and Glenn Phillips dominated the Indian batting order, exposing significant flaws in India’s ability to play on turning wickets.

The Australian pace attack has proven challenging on seaming conditions. While the Indian lower order, including Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, has bailed out the team on multiple occasions, the Indian top order has failed to post big scores.

Recent reports suggest that Indian coach Gautam Gambhir wanted the inclusion of a senior player for the tour.

Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara in squad but selectors denied

According to a latest report in Indian Express, India head coach Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara in the Indian squad for the Australia tour, but was denied by the selectors.

The Indian management is now looking to the future, promoting Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant to No. 3 and No. 5 in the middle order.

Pujara last represented India in test cricket in 2023 during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final. The senior batter did not fare well and scored 14 and 27 runs in both innings.

India are missing the composure and patience of Pujara on the ongoing tour, with most batters throwing away their wickets.

Pujara performed well in the last two Australian tours, scoring 521 and 271 runs in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours respectively. He provided vital support to Rishabh Pant and was key to India’s victory at the Gabba in 2021.

India currently trail the five-match series 2-1 after four tests and will face a must-win game at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3.

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