Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar Under Fire for Poor Team Selection After India’s ODI Loss to New Zealand

Gautam Gambhir’s coaching stint has featured contrasting results, from an ICC Champions Trophy title win to two rare home Test series defeats.

Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar Under Fire for Poor Team Selection After India’s ODI Loss to New Zealand

Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar have been criticized for India's surprise ODI defeat to New Zealand in Rajkot. (via India Today)

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India’s disappointing loss to New Zealand in Rajkot has, yet again, triggered widespread anger over team selection decisions. Both fans and critics voiced their disapproval of the controversial choices, pointing out that several talented players were excluded from the ODI squad.

The current depth of India’s cricketing talent pool means that many deserving players are left out of the squad. This was the case when the 15-member squad for India’s ODI series against NZ was announced. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had scored a century against South Africa just last month, was omitted. Devdutt Padikkal, who has been the standout performer in this season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, was also left out.

India secured a four-wicket victory in the series opener in Vadodara, but the team’s underlying issues were obscured by an exceptional batting performance from Virat Kohli. Contributions from KL Rahul and Harshit Rana in the end saw the team over the line. The flaws within the team became apparent during the second ODI, where India struggled to 284/7 in the first innings, with Rahul once again having to save the side by a hundred.

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell scored 131 runs off 117 balls to successfully complete the chase in just 47.3 overs. He was supported by Will Young’s 87-run innings and a quick 32-run cameo from Glenn Phillips.

The visitors ultimately won with seven wickets in hand, a result that exposed the Indian team’s inadequate bowling effort and prompted scrutiny over the decision to exclude the country’s leading ODI bowler, Mohammed Shami.

Shami’s absence has been a talking point for some time now, particularly since the 35-year-old has been in good form in domestic cricket. Fans took to social media to criticize head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, noting that star players like Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel have not featured in an ODI for months. Furthermore, the choice of young Delhi all-rounder Ayush Badoni as the injury replacement for Washington Sundar has fueled accusations of selection ‘favoritism’.

Meanwhile, the victory in Rajkot was especially noteworthy for New Zealand. The visitors played with an inexperienced lineup, missing most of their senior players such as Rachin Ravindra, Matt Henry, captain Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, and Tom Latham.

Fans slam Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar as India’s tactics fail against New Zealand

Indian cricket fans took to social media to express their agony, following the team’s heavy seven-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI in Rajkot. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were the primary targets, with the loss being cited as a strategic failure.

Fans criticize Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir
Fans criticized Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir for India’s ODI selections. (via India Today)

Many fans highlighted the inconsistent selection strategies, pointing out that several key players were either excluded from the main squad or the playing XI. The choice to keep left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh on the bench has also drawn attention. Singh has been overlooked, with the team management having instead favored Prasidh Krishna, who has faced criticism for giving away too many runs.

Some fans went as far as to assert that Gautam Gambhir’s time as Team India coach has been the worst in the history of Indian cricket, with others drawing parallels with the coaching tenures of Greg Chappell and Duncan Fletcher. A few of them hilariously exclaimed that Gambhir would pick 11 all-rounders in the side in the coming years, pointing towards the head coach’s over-emphasis on all-rounders.

The New Zealand series will also set the stage for India’s preparation for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. Following the third ODI in Indore, the Men in Blue will then play five T20Is against the Kiwis, before going into the multi-national tournament. 

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