Former India pacer Atul Wassan has slammed head coach Gautam Gambhir over his "Main selector nahi hoon" remark regarding Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the upcoming England tour. Wassan stated that Gambhir does not select; he only rejects, adding that the coach plays a huge role in selection.
Shreyas Iyer has been absent from the Indian Test team since February 2024 after a disappointing start in the first two matches of the five-match Test series against England. Iyer bounced back strongly in the Ranji Trophy, where he amassed 480 runs across six matches at an impressive average of 68.57.
At the Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament, Gautam Gambhir was asked about Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the upcoming England tour. Gambhir gave a straightforward reply, making it clear that he is not responsible for team selections.
"Main selector nahin hoon." (I'm not the selector).
Shreyas Iyer has shown impressive form across all formats, but his Test record is average. The right-handed batter has scored 811 runs at an average of 36.86 in 14 matches. He has appeared in only one Test in England, back in 2022, where he scored a total of 34 runs across two innings.
The Coach Has a Role in Team Selection - Atul Wassan
During the 12th episode of Bails and Banter on the OTTplay app, Atul Wassan criticized Gautam Gambhir, saying Gambhir "doesn't select; he only rejects." Wassan also pointed out that selectors consult the coach before finalizing the team.
"The coach has a role in team selection, and selectors also listen to them before naming the squad."
Team India’s tour of England will begin with the first Test at Headingley in Leeds on June 20. This five-match series will be the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
Gautam Gambhir Should Trust His Instincts, Says Atul Wassan
Wassan defended Gautam Gambhir, saying that sometimes a coach needs to trust their instincts when selecting players, even if the decisions don’t always turn out right. He added that Gambhir has the right to rely on his judgment, no matter the result.
"If he (Gautam Gambhir) has been given this position, then I think he deserves to go with his feeling, whether it's right or wrong," Wassan further stated.
Shreyas Iyer had an impressive start to his Test career, scoring a century on debut against New Zealand and following it up with a half-century. He also made significant contributions with a 92 against Sri Lanka and important innings of 86 and 87 against Bangladesh, helping India avoid trouble.
However, concerns about his ability to handle short-pitched bowling may be the reason for his exclusion from the team. During the 2022 Test in Birmingham, England, head coach Brendon McCullum urged his bowlers to target Iyer with short balls, which led to his dismissal for scores of 15 and 19.
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