5 major statements from Gautam Gambhir's press conference post defeat in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke about several aspects after the team's loss in the fifth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Sydney. The visitors suffered a six-wicket defeat and also conceded the series.

After winning the first Test in Perth, Gautam Gambhir and his team failed to build on the momentum. They lost the Adelaide Test as Australia came back to level 1-1. The third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw while the hosts gained a 2-1 lead with a win in Melbourne.

India needed to win the Sydney Test to save the series and retain the BGT. However, the visitors failed to do so, eventually losing the series 1-3. With this defeat, India's chances of making it to the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) have also ended.

Gautam Gambhir made some major statements in a press conference after India's defeat in the fifth BGT 2024-25 Test in Sydney.

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5 major statements from Gautam Gambhir's press conference post defeat in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

#5 On Australia accusing India of intimidating Sam Konstas

Australia accused the Indian team of 'intimidating' youngster Sam Konstas after his duel with Jasprit Bumrah on the opening day of the fifth Test. Gautam Gambhir slammed the Australians, stating that cricket is a tough sport played by tough men and that nothing was intimidating about it.

“It’s a tough sport played by tough men. You can’t be that soft. As simple as it can get. I don’t think there was anything intimidating about it. He had no right to be talking to Jasprit Bumrah when Usman Khawaja was taking time. He had no right. He had no business to be involved with Jasprit Bumrah, that was a job for the umpire," he said (via First Post).

He also spoke about Virat Kohli's shoulder barge incident with Konstas:

“Whatever happened, happened. I don’t think we need to make a big issue out of it. It is not just incidents that have happened in this series. It has happened in the past as well. A lot of Australian players in the past have done it as well.”

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#4 On players needing to play domestic cricket

Gautam Gambhir spoke about the importance of domestic cricket. He stated that players need to play domestic cricket when they are not a part of the national set-up.

“I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket. That is how much importance domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game. If they’re available and they have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket. As simple as it can get," the head coach said.

Moreover, he also added that unless domestic cricket is given importance, the team will not find the required players to play Test cricket.

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#3 On investing in youngsters before the England series

India will next play a Test series against England in June 2025. The head coach was thrown a question about investing in younger players before the England series.

Gautam Gambhir said that as the Australia series has just ended, this is not the right time to talk about the same:

“Look, it’s too early to talk about it. The series has just got over. I think we still have five more months to plan where we want to head towards. But it’s not the right moment right now for me to talk about that. Where are we going to be after five months?

Gautam Gambhir also added that five months is a long time and that whatever will happen will be in the best interest of the Indian cricket team.

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#2 On what went wrong for India in the BGT 2024-25 series

Addressing what went wrong for India after their defeat in the BGT 2024-25 series, Gautam Gambhir said that they failed to capitalize on crucial moments. He added that the visitors let Australia dominate despite having their moments throughout the series.

“We had our moments in this series where we could have won…the way we started this series, the pink ball Test match, and then we drew one match (in Gabba). If you see that last session in Melbourne (Day 5), Australia would have been in much more pressure with the series locked at 1-1," he explained.

Talking about the Sydney Test in particular, he said that India had their moments in this game as well. Gambhir stated that if India had batted well in the second innings and given Australia a bigger target, things could have been different.

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#1 On Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future

The Team India head coach was also asked about the future of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, Gautam Gambhir replied saying he cannot talk about the future of any player.

He mentioned that both Rohit and Virat still have the hunger and passion. He added that whatever they plan would be in the best interest of the team.

“It’s up to them as well. But yes, what I can say is that they still have the hunger. They still have the passion. They’re tough people. And hopefully they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. But ultimately, as we all know, that whatever they plan, they will plan for the best interest of Indian cricket," he said.

Talking about his responsibility, Gambhir said that he has to be fair to everyone in the team and not just a few players.

“But yes, as far as my question is concerned, my biggest responsibility is that I have to be fair to everyone in that room. Not only one or two individuals. If I’m fair to only two or three individuals, and not to everyone else, then I’m being dishonest to my job. So whether it’s a player who hasn’t debuted yet, or a player who has played 100 Test matches, my simple goal in my job is that I have to be absolutely fair and equal to everyone," he said hinting about making important decisions in the future.