"Always Hue And Cry...": Ex-India Selector On Gautam Gambhir-Rohit Sharma Rift In Dressing Room

Salil Ankola, who recently served as member of India men's team selection committee member, believes that reports of rift in the current Test team might be blown out of proportion, adding that there's a lot of outcry when the side doesn't get good results. After India suffered a 184-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, reports emerged of chaos and unrest in Indian team, with head coach Gautam Gambhir saying in his pre-match press conference that ‘there were some honest words, that is what I can say.'

“I am not a part of the Indian team selection committee now, but I don't think that's the case. If it was the case, it would have been internally sorted out. There is always hue and cry once Indian cricket team doesn't do well.”

“But this, it might be blown out of proportion. Most of these guys have played together when Gautam was there, like Virat and Rohit have played with him, or even Surya has played little bit with him. Rest of the team is young.”

”Let's wait and watch what exactly the whole thing is - there's a lot of chatter going on about, like Rohit not playing or this and that guy should be dropped. Every other paper comes out with a different story, and even the Australian media is not helping us too much.”

“They come up with their own stories, which has always been the case. With Australian media, it's always at its worst, whether it is against India, England, or any other team,” said Ankola in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

Asked if the outside noise around Indian team ahead of the crucial Sydney Test would be a main distraction in its quest to draw the series against Australia, Ankola, whose term as selector ended in September 2024, remarked, “I have toured with Indian cricket team