‘Play domestic cricket or you won’t…’ Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir reads riot act after Test series loss to Australia

Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media after the six-wicket loss to Australia in the SCG Test. The 43-year-old yet again stressed the need to play domestic red-ball cricket. There were talks of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing Duleep Trophy matches before the home season against Bangladesh and New Zealand, which did not materialise. 

Speaking to the media, Gambhir said, "I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket, if they're available. If you've committed to play red ball cricket, then play domestic cricket." Rohit Sharma scored a mere 31 runs from 5 innings, while Virat Kohli scored 190 runs out of which 100 came in the Perth Test match. 

With India now out of the WTC finals race, they will have to wait for 6 months to play Test cricket again. Team India will begin the 2025-27 WTC cycle with a five-match Test series against England starting in Leeds. Meanwhile, Indian senior players could head back home and look to play the second half of the Ranji Trophy season. 

Gautam Gambhir slams Andrew McDonald’s comments defending Sam Konstas

Australia coach Andrew McDonald had slammed the Indian team for their celebration in front of Sam Konstas. The young Aussie batter was involved in a verbal spat with Jasprit Bumrah at the end of the first day’s play. Konstas was standing at the non-strikers end when he said something to Bumrah that made the bowler upset. 

The next ball, as soon as Usman Khawaja was out, Bumrah turned to the batter as the rest of the team joined in the celebration. Speaking about the incident and comments made by Australia’s coach, Gambhir replied, “It's a tough sport played by tough men. You can't be that soft. As simple as it can get. I don't think there was anything intimidating about it."

Gautam Gambhir was asked about Andrew McDonald's comments on India 'intimidating' Sam Konstas at the end of Day 1:

"It's a tough sport played by tough men. You can't be that soft.

"As simple as it can get. I don't think there was anything intimidating about it." #AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/NiA8WAUP3z

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 5, 2025

Finally, when asked about the future of some of the players in the Test format, Gambhir said, “Too early to think about it. 6 months’ time is big and people change. We all know." Team India now gets ready for the home series against England, where they play 3 ODI and 5 T20I matches starting on 22nd January. This will be followed by the Champions Trophy 2025 before the players get ready for the IPL 2025 season.