Amid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi debate, Gautam Gambhir says, 'my job is not to make everyone happy'
toi
newspoint|01-11-2026
India head coach Gautam Gambhir said his responsibility was to make the right decisions for the team rather than please everyone, stressing that players who have performed consistently deserve a longer run.
India have plenty of options on the bench, with teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still waiting for an opportunity despite his performances. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have continued to open the innings and played key roles in India's successful defence of their T20I World Cup title earlier this year.
"First of all, my job is not to make everyone happy. My job is to take the right decisions, not the popular decisions. And that is what I'm there for," Gambhir told the broadcasters ahead of the fifth T20I against New Zealand on Sunday.
He said maintaining a sense of security within the dressing room was important and that players who had delivered over a longer period should be backed.
"No, it is very easy to take the popular decision. But for me, I think the important thing is to take the right decision and make sure that there is a lot of security inside the dressing room.
"Because, as you just mentioned, there's a lot of talent. But again, I think guys who have done phenomenally well over a longer period of time obviously deserve a longer rope. And that is exactly how we approach the series."
India had already sealed the five-match series against New Zealand by winning the first three games. Asked how he planned to keep the players motivated with the series decided, Gambhir said representing the country should be motivation enough.
"When you're playing for your country, there is no complacency."
"You've obviously got to remember that it's an international game. Everyone knows how few privileged players get the opportunity to represent the country. For me, every game is an opportunity to do something different, to learn something, to evolve.
"And that is exactly how we approach the game. I think there are no dead rubbers in my philosophy, in my ideology, and exactly the same philosophy applies in the room as well."
Gambhir also spoke about the short turnaround between India's previous assignments and the New Zealand tour. The team had played back-to-back home series against Afghanistan and the West Indies, along with the Asian Games, before travelling to New Zealand.
"It's been a very short turnaround as well. We finished off on the 17th, flew on the 18th. We had one practice session. I've got to give it to the boys, the way they adapted to the conditions.
"A lot of boys are coming here for the first time. And we all know how dangerous New Zealand is in their own backyard. So again, obviously, the guys adapted really well in the last 40-20s," he added.
India have plenty of options on the bench, with teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still waiting for an opportunity despite his performances. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have continued to open the innings and played key roles in India's successful defence of their T20I World Cup title earlier this year.
"First of all, my job is not to make everyone happy. My job is to take the right decisions, not the popular decisions. And that is what I'm there for," Gambhir told the broadcasters ahead of the fifth T20I against New Zealand on Sunday.
He said maintaining a sense of security within the dressing room was important and that players who had delivered over a longer period should be backed.
"No, it is very easy to take the popular decision. But for me, I think the important thing is to take the right decision and make sure that there is a lot of security inside the dressing room.
"Because, as you just mentioned, there's a lot of talent. But again, I think guys who have done phenomenally well over a longer period of time obviously deserve a longer rope. And that is exactly how we approach the series."
India had already sealed the five-match series against New Zealand by winning the first three games. Asked how he planned to keep the players motivated with the series decided, Gambhir said representing the country should be motivation enough.
"When you're playing for your country, there is no complacency."
"You've obviously got to remember that it's an international game. Everyone knows how few privileged players get the opportunity to represent the country. For me, every game is an opportunity to do something different, to learn something, to evolve.
"And that is exactly how we approach the game. I think there are no dead rubbers in my philosophy, in my ideology, and exactly the same philosophy applies in the room as well."
Gambhir also spoke about the short turnaround between India's previous assignments and the New Zealand tour. The team had played back-to-back home series against Afghanistan and the West Indies, along with the Asian Games, before travelling to New Zealand.
"It's been a very short turnaround as well. We finished off on the 17th, flew on the 18th. We had one practice session. I've got to give it to the boys, the way they adapted to the conditions.
"A lot of boys are coming here for the first time. And we all know how dangerous New Zealand is in their own backyard. So again, obviously, the guys adapted really well in the last 40-20s," he added.
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