“Sometimes selectors don’t have the spine to do it” - When Gautam Gambhir slammed Indian players 6 years back for not playing domestic cricket

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has often been vocal about players participating in domestic cricket during the off-time between international commitments. The former batter even called on the selectors not to pick players for international assignments who don't play for their state side.

While star players playing in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic competitions was a regular occurrence until the 2000s, the excess of cricket has drastically reduced such a possibility over the past decade.

Talking about the same on ESPNCricinfo in 2018, Gambhir said:

"If you don't care about Delhi cricket, which has given you the platform to go out there and fulfill your dream, and you don't want to commit yourself to that state, that state doesn't need you. That is what I'm very clear about, and that is why I've always told the selectors [not to pick those players]. Sometimes selectors do not have the spine to do it."

Around the same time, former Indian captain MS Dhoni, however, felt the option of playing domestic cricket should be left to each individual player.

"It is important to safeguard players. We have to make the domestic circuit slightly less challenging [in terms of the itinerary] for the individual. Moreover, it is important to be not too critical of T20 cricket and also individual preferences. Individual preferences should not be criticised," he said via ESPNCricinfo.

Despite playing only 58 Tests in his career, Gautam Gambhir participated in 198 first-class matches and scored over 15,000 runs with 43 centuries. The southpaw played for Delhi as late as the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, with his last outing coming against Andhra Pradesh.

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"I would always like everyone to play domestic cricket" - Gautam Gambhir after BGT 2024-25

Kohli and Rohit haven't played for their state sides for several years [Credit: Getty]

Cut to the present and Gambhir continued to push the Indian players to participate in domestic cricket after the side's dismal Test run in recent times.

After India suffered a 0-3 home series whitewash to New Zealand, they lost 1-3 in Australia to surrender the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The poor batting form of several batters, including stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, has come under massive scrutiny from former players and fans.

Many of the ex-players have called on the duo to play domestic cricket to rediscover their best form in Tests.

Speaking to the media after India's series defeat in Australia, Gambhir said [Via Hindustan Times]:

"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 are available and they have the commitment to play red-ball cricket, everyone should play domestic cricket."

The 2024-25 Ranji Trophy is ongoing with two group stage rounds for the teams remaining before the knockouts.

Meanwhile, Team India's next Test assignment is only in June when they take on England in a five-Test away series.