Management wanted Gautam Gambhir dropped over ‘indiscipline’
Yesterday, just before the Delhi selectors met to finalise the team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, they received a message: “Drop Gautam Gambhir over indisciplinary issue”.
However, despite the message and feedback from the team management, which didn’t paint a very rosy picture of the India Test and One-Day discard, especially over his on-and-off-field behaviour, including with other players during the just-concluded Ranji season, Gambhir was cleared by the trio of Atul Wassan, Hari Gidwani and Robin Singh. Sources said the selectors were unanimous that Gambhir couldn’t be dropped “on cricketing grounds”.
As for his disciplinary issues, the selectors felt the Cricket Advisory Committee could “take any action it deemed fit”.
Like last season, when Gambhir had an open confrontation with chief coach KP Bhaskar, this year, too, was accused of cauding indiscipline in the team, apart from creating problems for new skipper Rishabh Pant, where Delhi finished runners-up.
DNA has learnt from DDCA insiders that almost the entire team management -chief coach Bhaskar, bowling coach Manoj Prabhakar, manager Shankar Saini and the other support staff – deposed before the CAC two days back and apprised it of Gambhir’s negative attitude. The proceedings were also audio-taped and will be placed before DDCA …read more
