Gautam Gambhir finally reacts to dropping Arshdeep Singh for Harshit Rana: 'You can only pick 11'

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has finally opened up about his decision to bench Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav during the recent T20I series against Australia, a move that sparked criticism from fans and experts alike. Arshdeep, India’s leading T20I wicket-taker, was left out of the first two matches in favour of Harshit Rana.

Even though Arshdeep returned strongly with a three-wicket haul in the third T20I and another solid spell in the fourth, questions were raised about his exclusion from the first two matches despite being India’s premier new-ball and death bowler. Gambhir has now explained the reasoning behind those controversial decisions that triggered a huge debate.

Gambhir on making selection calls

In a video shared by the BCCI on Monday, Gambhir admitted that leaving out deserving players is the hardest part of being a coach. He said every member of the squad has the ability to make the playing XI, but the team management can select only 11 based on the best combination for that particular match. Gambhir highlighted the importance of having an open and honest communication with players who miss out.

“That is the toughest part for me as a coach, and that is the toughest job I have. Sometimes, when I know there is so much quality sitting on the bench, and I know everyone deserves to be part of the playing XI, but ultimately, you can only pick 11, thinking about what is the best combination to do the job on that particular day,” the former India opener said.

“But for me, the most important thing is the conversation and the communication as well. The communication needs to be very clear, very honest. Sometimes, obviously, those are tough conversations to have. If you tell someone that he is not playing, it is probably the toughest conversation for both the coach and the player, because I know the player would be upset when he deserves to be part of the playing XI,” he added.

Gambhir said that if the communication is honest and straightforward, players also understand it most of the time. He also praised the current team environment, describing it as “transparent and honest.” He urged outsiders not to overanalyse selection calls or assume rifts within the squad.

“But if you are honest, if you are straightforward, if you know that what you are saying comes from the heart and there is nothing beyond that, some players do understand. And it’s a communication between a player and the coach, and I think it should stay there, rather than people making a lot of outcry and different theories about it. And that is something this group and the support staff have done brilliantly, because it has been a very transparent dressing room, an honest dressing room, and that is exactly how we want it to be,” he concluded.