Virat Kohli's Close Ally Hints Rift Between Gautam Gambhir And Ajit Agarkar

Is there a rift between Gambhir and Agarkar? [Source: AFP]

The last few weeks have been absolutely forgettable for the Indian cricket fans. When the BCCI replaced Suryakumar Yadav with Shreyas Iyer as the new captain, little did the board know that the move would come along with arguably the darkest phase in T20Is for the Men in Blue. 

An infamous series defeat to Ireland, followed by a 0-4 drubbing in England, highlights India's miserable form as far as all three cricketing departments are concerned. However, what has rocked Indian cricket amid the turmoil disguised as another transition phase is an alleged rift between the BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir. 

According to several reports, Agarkar and Gambhir are not gelling well, a fact which now has got the stamp of approval from one of Virat Kohli's closest allies at RCB, Dinesh Karthik. 

India's misery reflects Gambhir-Agarkar standoff, reckons Dinesh Karthik

Since Shreyas Iyer became India's T20I captain, nothing has gone in the favour of the Men in Blue. While the underwhelming returns from several first-choice players has been a key reason behind the downfall of the Men in Blue, reports also suggest that all is not well between Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir. 

Recently, Virat Kohli's close ally and RCB's mentor as well as batting coach, Dinesh Karthik, also spotted the rift between the two powerhouses of Indian cricket. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Karthik reckoned that while Agarkar has a vision for the long term, Gambhir has a game-by-game approach when it comes to decision making. 

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The former wicketkeeper-batter opined that if there's indeed a rift between the BCCI chief selector and the Team India head coach, it's harmful for the players, who are the actual sufferers of the high-profile friction. 

He also urged the team management to address the issue and resolve it for the betterment of Indian team. 

"It feels like there's bit of a friction between what the chief selector, I feel, who has long-term plans, and a current coach, who is saying, you know, I want to win every game that I play, and hence, the confusion that we can see unfold in front of us," Dinesh Karthik said. 

"Is it ideal for the players? Definitely not. I mean, if you are from India, imagine the kind of bench strength India has. Everybody is thinking 'Oh my God, if I have a couple of bad games, anybody could replace me. And on top of that, this happens. Definitely, a situation that India needs to be aware of and try and rectify as soon as possible," he added. 

Gambhir, Agarkar developed differences during India's captaincy appointment

After Suryakumar Yadav was sidelined from India's T20I setup owing to poor form, the BCCI started searching for an able successor who could fill his void. 

Gautam Gambhir reportedly wanted Sanju Samson as the new skipper, while Ajit Agarkar voiced in favour of Shreyas Iyer for his impressive returns in the IPL. 

Renowned PTI journalist Kushan Sarkar recently revealed that the BCCI selection committee interfered in the team selection during the India vs England T20Is, even sending pre-approved lineups to the Gautam Gambhir-led management. 

This highlights the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, doesn't have enough faith in the Indian team management when it comes to forming the best combination depending upon the playing conditions. 

Preparing assets in transition: The key reason behind Gambhir-Agarkar feud?

Considering most of the cricketers play throughout the year, including a two-and-a-half-month-long IPL, India need quality backups for each of their first-choice options. While Gautam Gambhir has led the Indian team to two ICC titles as the head coach, the core teams for both those tournaments were prepared by his predecessor, Rahul Dravid. 

Under Gambhir, India have sustained several infamous feats for the first time. Apart from being whitewashed by New Zealand and South Africa at home, the Men in Blue recently had a torrid time in the UK, remaining winless in Ireland and England across seven T20Is. 

Additionally, Gambhir's knack for modifying the existing lineup and trying out different combinations during a particular series has prevented India from settling their lineups in Tests and T20Is of late. 

The Indian team has yet to find a long-term successor for Cheteshwar Pujara in Tests, while there's a glaring lack of accelerating options in their lower middle-order in ODIs and T20Is.

Gambhir's decisions highlight confusion more than assertion, forcing Ajit Agarkar and co. to take the matter into their hands, as India continue their quest for a dependable set of players who can help them overcome the transition phase. 

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