Gambhir Defends Omissions of Arshdeep and Kuldeep Amid Packed India Schedule

In the lead-up to India's upcoming Test series against South Africa, head coach Gautam Gambhir has addressed the controversial omissions of talented cricketers Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav from the national team's playing XI.

Gambhir revealed that managing the workload of all-format players like Arshdeep, Kuldeep, Shubman Gill, and others has been a major challenge for the team management. The packed schedule, which includes the recent Australia tour, the Asia Cup, and now the South Africa Tests starting in just a week, has put immense strain on the players.

Despite the public outcry over Arshdeep and Kuldeep's exclusions, particularly during the 2025 Aderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, Gambhir assured that the communication with the players has been transparent and honest. He acknowledged the difficulty in leaving out deserving players, but emphasized the need to field the best combination for each match.

India's new-look Test team, led by the in-form Shubman Gill, managed to secure a 2-2 series draw against a formidable England side in their previous outing. The team will now look to build on that performance as they take on South Africa, with Gambhir expressing his excitement about the challenges that lie ahead.