In a major shift for Indian cricket, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar are reportedly ending the “VIP status” long enjoyed by the sport’s biggest superstars.
The duo is moving away from a culture where reputation guaranteed a spot in the team regardless of form or participation in domestic matches.
The latest evidence of this “performance-first” policy came with the shocking omission of Shubman Gill from the T20 World Cup squad following a slump in runs.
Reports suggest that even legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are no longer exempt from strict standards. A BCCI source recently revealed that “no one is indispensable in the current scenario” as the management looks toward the 2027 World Cup.
Gambhir has been vocal about his mission to prioritise the collective over individuals.
He recently addressed the team’s difficult transition phase by stating, “Indian cricket is important, I am not important” and emphasised that players must earn their place through active play.
Agarkar has echoed this sentiment by making domestic cricket mandatory for everyone. He previously clarified that “whenever the guys are available, they should be playing domestic cricket” to stay sharp.
This new era signals that the days of “picking and choosing” series are over as the management aims to build a team based on current merit rather than past glory.
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