Team combinations will reveal rapport between Rohit and Gambhir: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar asked the fans to keep a tab on the Indian team selection for the upcoming Test series to get a gauge of the rapport between captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said that while Rohit and Rahul Dravid formed a lovely partnership in the last three years, it was yet to be seen how Rohit and Gambhir’s relationship transpires. Manjrekar believed that team selections would give a good idea if the duo were on the same page or if Gambhir was trying to influence changes in the Indian team to play his brand of cricket. Manjrekar argued that during the Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri era, it was evident from the frequent changes in the line-up that the head coach had more influence in selection calls.

“It was very clear that Rohit and Rahul clicked together. When Virat and Ravi were there, some of the decisions, especially while picking the playing XI gave you an idea of how much influence the coach had on the captain. I think you will start getting an idea about their dynamics with the selections that they make,” Manjrekar said.

The former India batter argued that the brash Gambhir India has seen on TV during commentary was just a persona and he expected the former KKR captain to opt for a softer approach behind the scenes. Manjrekar said that Gambhir was someone who read the game well and had the ability to make clinical calls instead of emotional ones.

“I have known Gambhir for the last 4 years. He is someone that reads the game very well and is someone who can be clinical with Indian cricket and not too emotional. I have always believed that the coach is as good as the team. Indian cricket is in a great state, and hope that continues. What we see of Gambhir is a persona on TV and I think when he is in the dressing room he will change his approach a little bit,” Manjrekar concluded.

Under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir, India won a T20I series against Sri Lanka and lost an ODI series in the same tour. The head coach will be looking to make a mark against Bangladesh as this series will set the tone for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia Down Under.