"I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket" - Gautam Gambhir makes massive statement after India surrender in BGT 2024-25 5th Test

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir asserted the importance of domestic cricket after the 3-1 Border-Gavaskar series defeat against Australia. The Men in Blue suffered a six-wicket loss in the fifth Test in Sydney and, as a result, were eliminated from the World Test Championship (WTC) Finals race.

Team India have now lost six of their last eight Tests, with the sole win coming in the series opener against Australia in Perth. Before the Border-Gavaskar series, they endured a humiliating whitewash at home to New Zealand, putting them in a delicate position.

There was a call for players to partake in domestic competitions to be better prepared for the red-ball season. As per the new directive issued by the BCCI, players are required to participate in domestic tournaments whenever they are available.

The 2024 Duleep Trophy took place right before the home season and saw several high-profile players partaking. However, it did not include senior players like Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and Virat Kohli.

"I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket. That is how much importance that domestic cricket needs to be given. Not only one game. Not If they are available, and have commitments to play red-ball cricket, everyone should. If you don't, you'll never get the desired results," Gambhir said during the post-match presentation in Sydney (via RevSportz)

The domestic season in 2025 commences with the second half of the Ranji Trophy season. However, with major assignments like a home series against England, Champions Trophy, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) to follow, it remains to be seen how major players will get into domestic action.

"It's too early to talk about it, the series just got over" - Gautam Gambhir on transition and future of the red-ball team

The sorry state of the majority of the squad has accelerated the talks of transition in the red-ball team. While the prospect was deemed inevitable, it has now been termed as urgent, with India set to begin their next WTC cycle with a tour of England in the June-July window in 2025.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin vacated his spot by retiring mid-way through the Border-Gavaskar series, but there are still several senior members remaining on the side, whose long-term involvement is uncertain.

"It's too early to talk about it, the series just got over. We have five months to plan where we want to head towards. A lot of things change in sports, forms change, people change, attitudes change. We all know that five months is a long time. Let's see before England tour. But whatever happens it will happen in the best interest of the Indian team," Gambhir added

Team India lost a bilateral Test series to Australia for the first time in a decade. The last time they suffered a similar setback was during a 2-0 series loss in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar series.