ICC Champions Trophy: Gambhir, Agarkar at loggerheads over selection calls

If the India vs England ODI series was an indication of anything, it was one for speaking of a solid batting order for India ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Going into the series, the batting order consisting of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli had the most scrutiny around it, thanks to the dismal form noted in the BGT. However, at the end of the three-match ODI series, India sure looks strong with the bat, even if the pace order remains a risk without Jasprit Bumrah. Across the series against England at home, Shubman Gill impressed, while Shreyas Iyer held the middle order tight with his consistent knocks. Moreover, skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli impressed with a century and a half-century, respectively.

Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir in a "heated" discussion ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

A performance as dominating as India's batting lineup against England would mean no headache for the management ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, right? Well, that's not the case if the latest reports are to be believed. While the top order remains stable with Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, the middle order has divided the decision-makers. The middle order, led by Shreyas Iyer, performed beyond expectations, scoring 375 runs in the three matches. But, reportedly, Ajit Agarkar, the chief of the selection committee, is still not satisfied with the selection calls that the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has made for the ICC tournament.

Before the India vs England series commenced, Ajit Agarkar, in a presser, cleared that Rishabh Pant would ideally take the wicketkeeping position in the team. Pant made his comeback to the format through the Sri Lanka series, where he didn't make much of an impact. Meanwhile, KL Rahul had made the position his own with an impressive average in the middle, including his turn-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Agarkar's words lost credibility when Gautam Gambhir didn't pick Pant for even a single fixture in the England series, a prelude to the ICC Champions Trophy.

With Gambhir's insistence on keeping a left-right combination in the mix, Rahul was demoted in the order, but he kept a place. All-rounder Axar Patel took the fifth spot in the order, below Iyer, where he impressed with a half-century. However, KL Rahul, at yet another new position, failed to make any impact until the last ODI. Despite the middle-order mix-up, Gambhir, ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, cleared that KL Rahul will be backed in the wicketkeeping position ahead of Pant, with his words standing in stark contrast to what Agarkar said earlier. Now, the latest reports suggest that Gambhir and Agarkar got into a "heated" discussion over the selection of Shreyas Iyer in the team and the choice between Pant and Rahul.

"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," the report read.