Kumble urges Gambhir to make 'tough decisions' on senior players
What's the story
Former Indian cricketer and coach Anil Kumble has advised current coach Gautam Gambhir to make "tough decisions" on moving on from legacy players. The suggestion comes as the Rohit Sharma-led India began their Champions Trophy campaign with a victory over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. Despite the win, eyes were on Sharma and Virat Kohli, who scored 41 runs off 36 balls and 22 runs off 38 balls respectively. Here's more.
Strategic advice
Kumble highlights importance of Champions Trophy for coach
Kumble stressed on the importance of the ongoing Champions Trophy for Gambhir. "You could say this is a very important tournament for a coach who has to make those tough calls in terms of transitioning from the legacy players to the others," Kumble told ESPNCricinfo. "This tournament could determine where those seniors would go, and where India would look at making those changes," he added. He also stressed on the need to start planning for major upcoming white-ball cricket tournaments.
Squad development
Kumble's advise on building a strong squad
Kumble also emphasized the need to build a strong and cohesive squad for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. He feels the team should have played a minimum of 20 or 25 matches together to understand match situations and build reliability. "In any World Cup, you're looking at building a squad that has played at least 20 or 25 matches together. That's when you understand the nuances of match situations, and who to rely on," he further noted.
Team integration
Kumble's take on integrating new players
The current Champions Trophy Indian squad also features rising stars in the form of Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Meanwhile, Kumble suggested that Gambhir should give these youngsters a consistent run, as part of his plan for the next ODI World Cup. He stressed that "the new set of players will need a consistent run of games playing with each other, to understand many things like the batting order, match situation, and tactics."
Stats
A look at Rohit and Kohli's stellar ODI numbers
Rohit surpassed the 11,000-run mark versus Bangladesh, becoming the second fastest to the feat. He now owns 11,029 runs at 49.01. He boasts a strike rate of 92.75, alongside 32 tons and 57 fifties across 261 innings. Additionally, Rohit's highest ODI score is 264. Meanwhile, Kohli has amassed 13,985 runs at 57.78 in 286 innings. He owns 50 tons and 73 fifties while striking at 93.43. According to ESPNcricinfo, Kohli's highest ODI score is 183.
Recent performances
Veteran duo's form in ODI cricket since 2023 World Cup
According to ESPNcricinfo, Rohit has featured in eight ODIs and has scored 367 runs since the 2023 World Cup. He averages 45.87 and has a strike rate of 132.49. The batter also boasts one ton and two fifties in these matches. His highest score is 119. Meanwhile, Kohli has played seven ODIs since the WC and has managed just 191 runs at 27.28. His strike rate reads 81.97, alongside just two fifties. His highest score in these matches is 54.