Former Indian cricketer and KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir has expressed concern that “creating hype” around young Indian players based on particular attributes, like bowling speeds, can “backfire” and “distract” them from putting in the necessary hard work. Gambhir emphasized that undue attention on specific criteria might lead young talents to lose focus on their overall development and dedication to the sport. He warned that this could ultimately hinder their progress and success in the long run, stressing the importance of consistent effort and holistic growth.
Gautam Gambhir’s Thought:
Gautam Gambhir, mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders and a leading candidate for the India coaching position, emphasized that T20I team selection should consider IPL performances. He asserted that selections shouldn’t rely solely on batting averages or bowling speeds but rather on overall contributions and impact in the IPL, ensuring a more comprehensive evaluation of players’ abilities and potential.
Gautam Gambhir shared his thoughts through Ravichandran Aswin’s YouTube channel. He said, “In India we start creating so much of hype with these young cricketers coming through. Everyone gets excited if someone is bowling 150 clicks. The point is you need to look at the conditions as well. Going forward in T20 cricket, the average and runs will have no impact. It is the strike rate, when you select a batter, and when you have to select a bowler, it is the kind of tough overs he can bowl. That will be the discussion that will happen in next two or three years.”
He further said, “We keep talking about the amount of runs and averages, and all that stuff, someone bowling 150s. Sometimes when you go in conditions like West Indies or Bangladesh, you don’t need someone bowling 150. You need someone who bowls cutters as well. That is where the vision lies with the selectors. Sometimes you pick raw talent. But creating so much hype after two or three games, we need to have a balanced approach.”
With that, he added, “The graph goes [up and down] in India, and it is not good for a young player. That is where the experts and commentators need to be balanced when it comes to these young players. It is easy for them to get deviated from the hard work and the good things they are doing. Because suddenly when you start talking about a young player doing well, it can backfire for them.”
Gautam Gambhir stressed the significance of domestic cricket, asserting that IPL displays should not dictate red-ball cricket selections. He highlighted the need for separate evaluation criteria for the longer format, emphasizing players’ performances and adaptability in domestic competitions as the primary factors for consideration in red-ball cricket team selections.
He also said, “India’s T20I side should be selected from IPL [performances]. For 50-over format, it should be selected from Vijay Hazare, and your Test side should be selected from your first-class cricket, red-ball cricket. As simple as that. If you start selecting people for 50-over format or red-ball cricket from an IPL competition, you are making a lot of shortcuts for a lot of these young players to not focus on red-ball cricket or 50-overs format, and you are walking on the edge.”
Gautam Gambhir on Two New Balls in ODI:
Gautam Gambhir criticized the introduction of the two new-balls rule in ODIs in 2011, labeling it as “the worst thing” to happen in cricket. He argued that this regulation has negatively impacted finger spinners, contributing to the decline of players like Ashwin and Australia’s Nathan Lyon in the 50-over format. Gambhir suggested that the rule change has hindered the success of spinners, altering the dynamics of the game unfavorably.
He said, “The worst thing that has happened in cricket is the introduction of two new balls. You’ve taken the entire skill of a fingerspinner away from the game, whether it’s a left-arm spinner or offspinner. You’ve got two new balls, you’ve got five fielders inside, how do you expect a fingerspinner to get anything out of a surface and how do you expect a fingerspinner to be included in the playing XI?”
He further said, “You’ve taken out two of the best fingerspinners in the world – you [Ashwin] and Nathan Lyon. The reason why you guys didn’t play was there was nothing for you guys. If you were bowling the 20th over, you’re bowling with a 10-over new ball, and with five fielders inside and on a flat track. And with big bats, and with power-hitters, and with small boundaries, and with smaller boundaries and on top of that DRS. It’s not about you and Nathan Lyon.”
He added, It’s about the job of ICC. The job of ICC is that you promote every kind of bowler who wants to become an offspinner and fingerspinner. Tell me how many youngsters going forward want to take up fingerspin? This art of bowling offspin or left-arm spin? No one would want to, because they know they’ve got no future in white-ball cricket.”
Gautam Gambhir proposed that instead of altering the rule, the ICC should have considered changing the ball manufacturers to address the issue affecting players. He suggested that modifying the ball design could have been a more effective solution without disrupting the game’s dynamics or impacting player performances negatively.
He said, “I love that format or the rule where you had one new ball. It’s not a player’s problem. If the ball manufacturer can’t keep the ball in good shape for 50 overs, might as well change the manufacturer. Don’t introduce two new balls because one ball can’t hold whatever colour for 50 overs. That’s a manufacturer’s problem.”
H added, “ When people talk about taking wickets in the middle innings suddenly they realise that the only wicket-takers could be wristspinners. Unless you’ve got a carom ball or a flicker, but where is the art of bowling genuine offspin or a left-arm spin which can beat people in the air or off the wicket as well?”
Finally he concluded, “Because there’s nothing off the wicket and you’ve got five fielders inside. So I think ICC has messed it up and we can change it going forward and have one ball for entire 50 overs.”
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