Gambhir: India 'very fortunate' to have Rohit and Virat around captain Gill as West Indies ODIs loom,

Gambhir delivers ringing endorsement of India's veteran duo

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has given a significant public endorsement of veteran batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, insisting that captain Shubman Gill is "very fortunate" to have the senior pair alongside him as India prepare to open their three-match ODI series against the West Indies on Sunday.

Both Rohit and Virat are set to feature in the playing XI for the series opener in Kerala, and Gambhir, speaking to JioStar, was asked specifically about Gill's leadership and his development in the role. The India coach pointed to the wealth of experience available to the young captain through the presence of the two senior batters, stressing that their influence extends well beyond what they contribute with the bat.

"In one-day cricket, when you talk about it, he's very fortunate that he's got the likes of Rohit and Virat to help him on the field and off the field as well. And then, more importantly, I think that calmness, I think keeping the emotions aside, because when you're young, sometimes you can actually get dragged into the emotions as well," Gambhir said.

Gill 'has ticked all the boxes'

The head coach was equally effusive about the young captain's own progress, praising Gill's temperament and leadership qualities even as he acknowledged the batter's recent struggles in the 50-over format.

"He has actually ticked all the boxes. He has been calm, he has been selfless, he has been aggressive, he has said the right things… he leads by example, not only by runs. So I feel that he has done all the right things. Hopefully, he'll get the results as well because he has had a bit of a tough time in one-day cricket. But I am sure, I think things will turn around because he has done all the right things," Gambhir added.

While the comments were prompted by a question about Gill, they also amount to a substantial public show of faith in Rohit and Virat from the India coach — a notable shift given the turbulence of recent months.

A dramatic change in fortune for Rohit

The situation around Rohit Sharma, in particular, has changed considerably since the Lord's ODI in July. Ahead of that game, a media house had reported that the match could be the former India captain's last and that he had been informed he was no longer part of the team's World Cup plans. Rohit responded emphatically on the field with a commanding 138 in the match.

Since then, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has also spoken strongly in support of the veteran batter, and the developments around the selection set-up have added another layer to the changing picture. TimesofIndia.com earlier reported that chief selector Ajit Agarkar is less likely to receive an extension, with Parthiv Patel appearing to be the front runner for the position.

Against that backdrop, Gambhir's comments underline the prominent role the two veterans continue to play around the ODI side, and the value he places on their experience as Gill steers the team into a new era.