‘I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket’- Gautam Gambhir after India’s defeat in BGT 2024-25

The significance of domestic cricket and the reasons why he encourages all Indian players to participate whenever feasible have been discussed by India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir made these remarks after the Indian side lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 fifth and final Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground by six wickets, allowing them to lose the trophy for the first time in ten years.

With victories in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, Australia won the series 3-1 and reclaimed the trophy, but India helped lay a strong platform for the series with a 295-run victory in Perth. Gambhir emphasised in his remarks following the series defeat how playing domestic cricket may benefit both senior players and junior ones.

Everyone playing domestic cricket is something I would always like to see. That’s how much domestic cricket should be prioritised. Players should play domestic cricket as simply as possible, if they are available and committed to playing red-ball cricket. Gambhir stated, “You will never get the players you want in Test cricket if you don’t give domestic cricket priority.”

On Rohit and Kohli, Gautam Gambhir said, “They are tough people with hunger.”

The former India opener, who took over as head coach after Rahul Dravid, also discussed how players that are nearing the end of their careers, like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, still have the desire to achieve.

Due to his inability to recover his form, Rohit notably resigned as captain of India and did not participate in the series’ final Test. Additionally, following a century in the second innings in Perth, Kohli was unable to perform well and fell eight times out of nine, nicking deliveries to wicketkeepers or slips.

They are hungry and tough individuals who will determine what is best for Indian cricket. I have to be fair and honest with everyone in the dressing room to keep everyone happy,” Gambhir stated.