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Gautam Gambhir lacks right demeanour, words: Manjrekar critiques press meet
In a strongly-worded social media post, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Gautam Gambhir, saying the head coach doesn’t have the ‘right demeanour’ to represent the Indian cricket team in a press conferences.
In Short
- Sanjay Manjrekar said Gautam Gambhir not equipped to face the press
- Gambhir addressed the media in Mumbai before leaving for Australia
- Gambhir lashed out at Ricky Ponting over his criticism of Virat Kohli
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Gautam Gambhir, saying he ‘does not have the right demeanour’ to speak to the media after the head coach addressed a press conference in Mumbai before his departure to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In a strongly-worded social media post, Manjrekar urged the Indian cricket board to keep Gambhir away from interacting with the press.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s explosive comments come hours after Gautam Gambhir put on a brave face and handled questions from the press regarding the upcoming five-Test series and India’s humbling 0-3 defeat to New Zealand in a home Test series.
“Just watched Gambhir in the press conference. May be wise for the BCCI to keep him away from such duties, let him work behind the scenes. He does not have the right demeanour nor the words when interacting with them. Rohit & Agarkar, much better guys to front up for the media,” Manjrekar said in his post on X.
Gautam Gambhir Talks Leadership, Team Selection, and India’s Preparation for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Gambhir answered some tough questions with his usual blend of confidence and bluntness.
Gambhir dismissed social media chatter about his performance, calling it as impactful as a wet noodle. He also criticized Ricky Ponting for his remarks on Virat Kohli, while expressing confidence that both Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma would regain their peak form in Australia.
He also defended the decision to pick Nitish Reddy over Shardul Thakur, and confirmed that if regular captain Rohit Sharma is unavailable for personal reasons, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in the opening Test against Australia in Perth. While Rohit’s availability remains uncertain, Gambhir expressed confidence in the leadership structure, stating that Bumrah would step up if needed.
With Rohit’s possible absence, KL Rahul is expected to open due to his experience, despite Abhimanyu Easwaran’s strong form. Gambhir praised Rahul’s versatility, noting his ability to adapt to different batting positions, which makes him a reliable choice.
Gambhir explained that the decision not to play Harshit Rana during India A’s tour of Australia was a strategic one, aimed at managing his workload and keeping him fresh for the five-match Test series. He also expressed confidence in India’s pace attack, highlighting the skill sets and adaptability of young bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep.
The first Test of the much awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy will be played in Perth from November 22.
