"Keep him away.." Sanjay Manjrekar wants BCCI to bar head coach Gautam Gambhir from attending press conferences

Gautam Gambhir attended a press conference on Monday before departing for Australia.

In an interesting and unexpected observation, former Indian cricket team batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has been left unimpressed with current head coach Gautam Gambhir’s demeanour at the latest press conference and has suggested BCCI to not ask Gambhir to attend press conferences in the future.

This opinion of Manjrekar’s came following Gambhir’s presser on Monday before he departed for Australia, where India and the hosts will contest in a five-match test series, starting on November 22, for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In the press conference, Gambhir took a dig at Ricky Ponting for his comments on Virat Kohli’s dipping form in test cricket. Gambhir also didn’t give any clarity on the availability of captain Rohit Sharma for the first test even though the squad is set to fly out today.

Gautam Gambhir does not have the right demeanour and words: Sanjay Manjrekar

Known for his hot takes regarding Indian cricket and Indian cricketers, Manjrekar this time made an opinion on Gambhir’s manner of interaction with the media. He reckons the BCCI should ask captain Rohit and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to address the media and keep Gambhir away from this responsibility.

Manjrekar tweeted, “Just watched Gambhir in the press conference. May be wise for @BCCI to keep him away from such duties, let him work behind the scenes. He does not have the right demeanour nor the words when interacting with them. Rohit & Agarkar, much better guys to front up for the media.”

Just watched Gambhir in the press conference. May be wise for @BCCI to keep him away from such duties, let him work behind the scenes. He does not have the right demeanour nor the words when interacting with them. Rohit & Agarkar, much better guys to front up for the media.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 11, 2024

Perhaps it were Gambhir’s comments regarding the transition period in the test side that irked Manjrekar.

“Look, honestly I’m not even thinking that the team is in transition and that kind of stuff,” Gambhir said, adding “You guys can keep talking about the transition and all that stuff.”

Earlier, Ponting had expressed surprise at Kohli’s underwhelming numbers in test cricket since 2020. To him, Gambhir shot back, “What does Ponting to has to do with Indian cricket? I think he should think about Australian cricket and more importantly have got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit.”

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