Gautam Gambhir And Ajit Agarkar Fight Over Shreyas Iyer And Second Keeper Spot For Champions Trophy 2025

Gautam Gambhir, India head coach, and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar reportedly had an intense confrontation over India’s squad selection for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Gambhir and Agarkar disagreed on Shreyas Iyer's position as well as the major wicketkeeper fight between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.

The middle order, particularly Shreyas Iyer, was the most encouraging for India in the just-finished home ODI series against England. Notably, Iyer was not scheduled to play in the series opener. However, the right-handed batter made it into the starting XI after Virat Kohli was ruled out due to a knee injury.

India's middle order was essential, especially with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma only appearing in portions. The No. 4-7 batters scored 375 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 116.42, including three fifties, whereas England's middle order scored only 278 runs at 23.16, with two half-centuries.

Gambhir and Agarkar’s heated debate on India’s Champions Trophy squad

Shreyas Iyer scored 181 runs, averaging 60.33, including two fifties. Despite initially considering dismissing him in favor of a left-right top-order combination, management decided to stick with him. The squad also supported Axar Patel's move up the batting order to maintain the left-right balance in the middle overs.

According to the Times of India, Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar had a "heated" discussion about Shreyas Iyer's place in the Champions Trophy squad.

Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar not on the same page?

The article further suggested that Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma supported KL Rahul as the primary wicketkeeper, while Agarkar preferred Rishabh Pant.

"Selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar, while announcing the Champions Trophy squad, had claimed Pant was the first-choice wicketkeeper. As it turned out, Pant is the only player in the squad who didn't get a game in the three ODIs in the England series. Sources indicated that there had been heated debate in the selection meeting around retaining Shreyas Iyer in the team and over the second wicketkeeper's slot," read the TOI report.

A couple of Indian players the bone of contention

In his final news conference before the Champions Trophy, Gautam Gambhir revealed that Shreyas Iyer was never intended to be benched for the full ODI series. He indicated that they intended to offer Yashasvi Jaiswal an opportunity. Gambhir also stated that KL Rahul is the first option wicketkeeper.

“Ultimately, it’s very difficult to talk about individuals, but all I can say is that if Pant is a part of the squad, he will get an opportunity. But at the moment obviously, KL is our number one wicketkeeper, and he’s delivered for us," Gautam Gambhir said.

KL Rahul played all three One-Day Internationals against England but struggled with the bat. The right-handed batter managed to score only 52 runs with an average of less than 18. He was placed at No. 6 in the first two matches before returning to No. 5 in the last ODI, where he scored 40 runs in quick succession.

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