Gambhir cites injuries, BCCI CoE scrutiny for Gill's captaincy challenges

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that recurring injuries and constant team changes are making it difficult for Shubman Gill to lead the Indian cricket team consistently, particularly in Test and ODI formats. His comments come as the BCCI Centre of Excellence faces scrutiny over its injury management protocols following setbacks involving several key players. Gambhir emphasized that a young captain like Gill needs a stable team to perform effectively. "If I give an absolutely honest answer, then yes. Because, especially in Test cricket and oneday cricket, you want your best players to play as much Test cricket and oneday cricket as possible," he said. He added that it is not fair on a young captain if he does not get the best team playing regularly. The BCCI Centre of Excellence has been under criticism after players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakravarthy suffered injuries or setbacks during rehabilitation. The facility has defended its processes, with VVS Laxman stating in August that there was no communication breakdown between the centre, team management, and selectors.