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Cannot head into the 2027 ODI World Cup with half-baked preparation: Gautam Gambhir on Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah's fitness
Ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has made a significant statement regarding the workload and fitness of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. In an interview with JioHotstar, Gambhir emphasized that players need adequate 'game time' before heading into a major tournament like the World Cup, stating that no player can step onto the field 'half-baked' (without complete preparation).
Hardik and Bumrah: India's biggest assets for South Africa
According to Gautam Gambhir, the roles of Hardik and Bumrah will be crucial in South African conditions:
- Hardik's Impact: Gambhir said, "There are very few teams in the world that possess a player like Hardik—someone who can bowl 10 overs and also come in at number 6 or 7 to score match-winning runs. He hasn't played much ODI cricket since the IPL, so it is vital to give him enough matches to find his rhythm."
- Bumrah's Workload: Regarding Bumrah, the coach noted that the challenge lies in determining the right balance of ODI and Test cricket for him—ensuring his workload is managed while still providing him with sufficient game time.
Gambhir revealed that Hardik Pandya—who is not yet fully ready to bowl a complete quota of 10 overs—will begin his comeback by playing for India 'A' in the upcoming series against Australia 'A'.
Core team needs to play together to build Captain Shubman Gill's confidence
Discussing World Cup preparations, Gambhir stated that for Captain Shubman Gill to find the right combination and gain confidence, it is essential for the core group of 11 to 15 players to play as many matches together as possible.
"It isn't easy to field the core players together when T20, ODI, and Test formats are all running concurrently. However, having the team's key players play together before the World Cup is crucial for the captain's confidence."
— Gautam Gambhir
"I couldn't sleep the night I dropped Sanju Samson"
During an interview, Gautam Gambhir shared a deeply emotional and candid anecdote regarding Sanju Samson. He described the decision to drop Sanju from the England series—despite the player having been the 'Player of the Tournament' in the T20 World Cup—as the toughest decision of his coaching career.
- A sleepless night: Gambhir said, "In my two years of coaching, that was the only night I couldn't sleep. I spoke openly with Sanju and explained that, given the form of young Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the time, we needed an aggressive start at the top of the order to win the series."
- Sanju's grace and the reality of the Playing XI: Gambhir noted that Sanju accepted the decision with great sportsmanship. He clarified that the Playing XI is not determined by social media or external noise; rather, it is decided by the captain and coach within the dressing room.
Sanju Samson is now once again opening the batting for India in T20s alongside Abhishek Sharma, while young Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been advised to wait for his turn.
