Gambhir, BCCI set to end ‘pick and choose’ culture in Team India

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, known for opposing the mega-star culture in cricket, has received a major boost from Mohammed Siraj’s stellar performances during the recent England tour. Siraj’s relentless effort helped India secure a commendable 2-2 Test series draw, strengthening Gambhir’s and chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s resolve to establish a uniform team-first culture in Indian cricket.

According to sources, the BCCI, selection committee, and team management are united in their decision to end the practice of players selectively opting out of matches under the guise of workload management. While genuine workload concerns — especially for fast bowlers — will still be considered, missing key fixtures without compelling reasons will no longer be tolerated.

A senior BCCI official confirmed that centrally contracted all-format players will soon be clearly told this policy. “Fast bowlers’ workload needs managing, but it can’t be accepted that players skip crucial matches in its name,” the official said.

Siraj’s example stands out — bowling 185.3 overs across five Tests, enduring long spells in the field, and delivering in the nets over six weeks. His fitness and commitment have shown that no player is bigger than the team. Even England captain Ben Stokes played through physical challenges, reigniting the debate over whether workload is sometimes overstated.

Legendary former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was blunt in his criticism of the workload narrative. Comparing cricketers to soldiers on the border, he said, “When you’re playing for your country, forget the aches and pains. Rishabh Pant batted with a fracture. Siraj bowled his heart out for five Tests straight. That’s what playing for India should mean.” Gavaskar called for the word “workload” to be erased from Indian cricket’s vocabulary, labeling it a mental rather than a physical issue.

BCCI insiders have not been impressed by Jasprit Bumrah’s inability to handle a five-Test workload, raising concerns about the Sports Science team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. With Nitin Patel’s departure and a new head of Sports Science to be appointed, the expectation is that fast bowlers will play more consistently instead of being overly protected.