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NEW DELHI: Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having an intense one-on-one discussion with star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, away from the rest of the squad, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). India, currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, is preparing for the series-deciding fifth Test starting Friday.
While Gambhir and Bumrah engaged in their conversation, other players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravindra Jadeja, were seen warming up and playing a game of football. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill worked on his fielding alongside Washington Sundar.
Following his discussion with Bumrah, TimesofIndia.com can confirm Gambhir then had a chat with chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
This interaction further fueled speculation about unrest in the dressing room, but Gambhir promptly dismissed such reports as unfounded.
“Discussions between the coach and players should stay in the dressing room. Stern words may be exchanged, but those reports of unrest are not true,” Gambhir clarified during the pre-match press conference.
“Indian cricket will remain in safe hands as long as honesty prevails in the dressing room. Performance is the only factor that secures a player’s place,” he added.
Gambhir emphasized the value of open and honest communication, stating, “There were honest conversations, and honesty is critical in this setup.”
Addressing rumors of issues with senior players, Gambhir confirmed that his discussions with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been focused solely on strategies to win matches.
“Every individual understands their areas of improvement. Our sole focus has been on strategizing to win games,” Gambhir explained.
On the injury front, Gambhir announced that pacer Akash Deep would miss the final Test due to a stiff back, likely caused by his heavy workload of 87.5 overs across two matches. He did not reveal a replacement for Akash Deep.
“Akash Deep is out with a back issue,” Gambhir said, adding that the final playing XI would be decided after assessing the pitch conditions.
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