Dinesh Karthik is not pleased with how India head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill selected the team during the Test series against England. Karthik said that Gautam Gambhir is calling the shots and must be ready to accept credit and flak. The young Indian team achieved a 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The visitors were 1-2 down heading into the fifth and final Test, but they scripted a memorable 6-run win at the Oval.
In a significant shift in policy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to end the era of selective participation by star players under the pretext of “workload management”. The move follows India’s thrilling six-run victory at The Oval, which helped level the five-match Test series against England at 2-2. With Gautam Gambhir taking charge as head coach and Ajit Agarkar overseeing selection, the message is clear—no individual is bigger than the team.
At the heart of this cultural shift is Mohammed Siraj. The pacer emerged as the face of India’s resilience, bowling a staggering 185.3 overs across five Tests and consistently delivering long spells that showcased peak fitness and relentless dedication. His commitment has sparked praise across the cricketing fraternity, including from Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar.
Mohammed Siraj’s performance has not only drawn admiration but has also reignited debate around workload management—once considered a sacred tenet in modern cricket, now increasingly viewed as a convenience tool for elite player.
Gautam Gambhir has long been a critic of the superstar culture in Indian cricket. Under his leadership, the BCCI is now moving towards a merit-based, egalitarian approach. According to sources, all-format players will be informed that the days of handpicking matches are over.
“The message will be sent across to the centrally contracted players, especially those who are all-format regulars, that this culture of picking and choosing games won’t be entertained in the near future,” a senior BCCI official confirmed to PTI.
It’s about values, accountability, and building a cricketing environment where every player pulls equal weight. However Dinesh Karthik seems heavily upset with the Team selection issue and has launched a direct attack on Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill for its blunders even after the series ended in a respectable 2-2 draw.
Gautam Gambhir is the driving force with Shubman Gill- Dinesh Karthik
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik claimed that head coach Gautam Gambhir was solely responsible for the team winning or losing. His remarks come after India managed to draw the five-match Test series against England 2-2. Ever since taking over as head coach, Gautam Gambhir has managed to win just one Test series against Bangladesh while losing to Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik opined that Gautam Gambhir needs to be as focused on picking 20 wickets as on the batting depth. The RCB coach claimed that it was the head coach who had taken control of the team and was the primary driving force alongside captain Shubman Gill. Karthik pointed out that Gautam Gambhir will now be responsible for whatever happens in the Indian team as he was getting things his way.
“Gambhir is now getting his way, so he will be responsible for everything that happens in the Indian team. If it does well, credit to him. If it doesn’t do well, he should put his hands up and say, ‘we made a mistake’. He has taken control of the team I feel. He is the driving force of this team with Shubman. The one thing that I feel he can do is almost look at being serious about picking 20 wickets as much as he feels depth in batting is important,” Karthik said.
Further, Karthik noted that while Gambhir record as coach in white-ball cricket was terrific, he still has a lot to learn when it comes to Tests. In his first Test series as India’s new head coach, the Men in Blue managed to whitewash Bangladesh at home. Subsequently, they were whitewashed by New Zealand (0-3) at home before losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 to Australia.
“He’s a terrific white-ball coach and the results have been there for us to see. But, in Test cricket, he is also learning on the job,” Karthik added.
“You could almost argue they picked a team not to lose. He is now getting his way, so he will be responsible for everything that happens in the Indian team. If it does well, credit to him. If it doesn’t do well, he should put his hands up and say, ‘we made a mistake’,” the 40-year-old went on to add.
Workload management won’t be completely scrapped—especially for fast bowlers—but it will now follow objective criteria, not individual preferences.
What began as a tactical change could soon evolve into a defining cultural reset. With Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar aligned, the BCCI appears determined to restore balance—ensuring players serve the team, not the other way around. This policy overhaul is not just about scheduling or fatigue.
As India gears up for the Asia Cup and a packed home season ahead, one thing is certain—star privilege is on the decline, and team-first mentality is back in fashion.
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