Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir opened up about veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Gambhir also praised Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal and added that the young batters would also be in the mix for the next edition of the ODI World Cup.
India ended the three-match ODI series with a nine-wicket win over South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6. South Africa were bowled out for 270 in 47.5 overs. The home team chased down the target in 39.5 overs while losing only one wicket, sealing the series 2-1.
They Are World-Class Players – Gautam Gambhir on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Speaking at a press conference, Gautam Gambhir lauded Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, calling them world-class players. Gambhir stated that their experience will help the dressing room.
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“They are world-class players and their experience is important in the dressing room. They’ve been doing it for a long time. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same, which is going to be important in the 50-over format.”
When asked about their chances of featuring in the 2027 ODI World Cup, Gambhir reminded everyone that the tournament is still two years away. He added that young players entering the squad must make the most of their opportunities.
“First you got to realize that the ODI World Cup is two years away. It’s important to stay in the present, and that young boys coming into the setup grab their opportunities.”
We Wanted to Give Ruturaj Gaikwad an Opportunity – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir said that Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a century in the second ODI despite batting out of position. He stated that Gaikwad earned his place through strong India A performances and proved his worth when the team was under pressure.
“First you got to realise that the ODI World Cup is two years away. It’s important to stay in the present, and that young boys coming into the set-up grab their opportunities,” Gambhir stated.
“Someone like Rutu (Gaikwad) has batted out of position, but he’s a quality player. We wanted to give him an opportunity in this series, because of the kind of form he was in with India A. And he grabbed that opportunity with both hands when we were under pressure,” he continued.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Has a Massive Future Ahead – Gautam Gambhir
The head coach also said that Yashasvi Jaiswal has already shown his quality in Test cricket. Gambhir expressed confidence that both Jaiswal and Gaikwad have bright futures ahead in white-ball formats.
“Getting that kind of a 100 was proper quality. And Yashasvi as well, we’ve seen how much quality he has, especially in Test cricket. It’s just the start of his career, especially in white-ball cricket. Hopefully he has a massive future ahead and so does Rutu.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad got chances in the playing XI after Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were ruled out with injuries. Jaiswal, who serves as a backup opener, scored a century in the third ODI.
Gaikwad, usually an opener in white-ball cricket, was pushed down to No. 4. He scored a hundred in the second ODI and added a 195-run partnership with Virat Kohli. It will be interesting to see their roles once Gill and Iyer return.
