Gautam Gambhir Defends Shubman Gill, Indirectly Blames CoE For Poor Test, ODI Results

Gautam Gambhir with Shubman Gill. [Source - AFP]India registered a comprehensive victory, beating Afghanistan by 127 runs in the third T20I in Delhi. India completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series, but Gautam Gambhir’s post-match press conference became the major talking point.While the result gave India plenty to celebrate, Gambhir’s comments after the match quickly shifted attention towards an issue that has continued to follow the team. The head coach’s response has now sparked plenty of discussion.Gautam Gambhir Defends Shubman Gill Amid India’s Recurring Injury ProblemsTeam India head coach Gautam Gambhir once again made headlines with his big remarks after India beat Afghanistan in the third T20I. Gambhir had plenty to talk about, but one major issue he shed light on was player injuries.Gambhir was asked about the regular injuries troubling Indian players across formats. Speaking in the post-match press conference, he showed his disappointment over the situation."Not fair on young captain Shubman Gill that he doesn’t get full strength playing XI regularly in ODIs and Tests," Gambhir said.Gambhir clearly defended Indian Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill while also seemingly taking an indirect jab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). But the recurring injury list has created another uncomfortable question for Indian cricket - what is happening after players go to CoE?Whoever Goes To CoE Keeps Getting Injured? Varun Chakravarthy Latest ExampleThe question over India’s injury management is becoming difficult to ignore, especially when players return from the CoE and quickly suffer another setback. Varun Chakravarthy’s latest injury is a clear example of the growing concern.Varun had spent nearly two months away after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring injury during the England T20Is in July. He then underwent rehabilitation at the CoE before returning against Afghanistan in Delhi.Also Read: Embarrassing Records Registered By Afghanistan After Series Whitewash Vs IndiaHowever, his comeback lasted only one match. Varun bowled four overs for 16 runs before feeling discomfort in his left side while bowling his third over. Scans later showed a side strain, ruling him out.Varun is not the only recent concern. Harshit Rana suffered a rectus femoris strain during a CoE match simulation, While Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, two high-profile names, remain injured whenever they go to the CoE.India’s Injury Crisis Has Become A Problem For Shubman GillIndia are dealing with an injury crisis, that much is clear, and the CoE does not seem to be making things better. In the longer formats, especially Tests and ODIs, Shubman Gill’s team has struggled recently.A captain cannot build a settled team when key players keep moving in and out of the XI. An occasional injury is understandable, but repeated fitness problems make it difficult to maintain consistent combinations and plans.This becomes even more concerning when India’s results are considered. They lost a home Test series against South Africa last year and their chances of qualifying for the WTC Final look slim, while India have also lost two of their three ODI series in 2026.Also Read: Abhishek Sharma Gives Credit To Gautam Gambhir, Shreyas Iyer For His Fearless Batting