Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has addressed the contentious omissions of Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav across different formats, particularly during the 2025 Aderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. Both players spent the entire series on the bench, highlighting their continued struggle for game time in highly competitive environments.
Arshdeep Singh was not included in India’s first-choice playing XI for the 2025 Asia Cup or the T20I series against Australia. Kuldeep Yadav, similarly, missed the first two ODIs against Australia as the team management favored a combination prioritizing all-rounders and batting depth. Their exclusions have often sparked considerable debate among pundits and outraged discussions on social media.
#### Gautam Gambhir Provides Clarity on Selection Decisions
In an interview with the BCCI, Gautam Gambhir spoke candidly about the complexities of team selection. He emphasized the importance of clear and honest communication with players, especially those on the sidelines.
> “That is probably the toughest part of my job as a coach. When I know there is so much quality sitting on the bench, and everyone deserves to be in the playing XI, but ultimately you can pick only eleven. The most important thing for me is the conversation and the communication. Sometimes those are hard conversations to have. If you tell someone he’s not playing, it’s the toughest for both coach and player. But if you’re honest and straightforward, and speak from the heart, some players do understand that. It should remain a private matter between player and coach, rather than people making outcry or theories about it,” Gambhir explained.
#### Managing Workload and Preventing Burnout
Beyond selection headaches, another significant challenge for India is managing the workload of players featuring in all three formats. Since the Asia Cup, the Men in Blue have played continuous cricket across formats, with the schedule getting even busier.
Less than a week after the conclusion of the Australia tour, Shubman Gill is set to lead the team in the first Test against South Africa, starting November 14.
Gambhir acknowledged the realistic possibility of player burnout but assured that the team management is vigilant. “The guys who play all three formats, we need to be smart in managing their use, so there’s no burnout. For example, Kuldeep, Bumrah, Shubman, Washi, Axar – all these guys are playing all formats. Switching formats is tough, especially with the tight schedule.”
Critics have pointed to workload, burnout, and the added captaincy responsibilities as factors in Shubman Gill’s recent dip in form. The ace batter has played uninterrupted cricket since IPL 2025, including tours to England, Asia Cup, series against West Indies, and Australia.
#### “I Have Never Been a Part of a Series This Exciting”: Gambhir Reflects on England Tour
The disappointing end for India in the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle led to sweeping changes in the red-ball squad, as senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin stepped away.
Gambhir faced the significant task of guiding a new captain in Shubman Gill and a relatively young squad against a well-drilled England side in challenging conditions.
> “I’ve never been part of a series this exciting. Five Test matches are always tough. Even as a player, I was never in a five-match Test series. As a coach, I’ve now been part of two. England is always a hard place to tour, especially with a young side and captain,” Gambhir concluded.
Despite the transition, the new-look Team India mounted a serious challenge and finished the England series with a 2-2 result, kicking off the new cycle on an optimistic note.
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*Edited by Gokul Nair.*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-that-toughest-job-i-have-gautam-gambhir-addresses-criticism-playing-two-key-players-eng-vs-ind-2025-tests
