4 big concerns that Gautam Gambhir needs to fix in Team India’s ODI side

India’s tour of Sri Lanka came to a close recently, with the visitors coming out on top in the T20I series and the hosts showcasing sheer brilliance in the ODI series. While the Gambhir-Surya era started on a fabulous note with a 3-0 whitewash, it wasn’t a great start to Gambhir-Rohit era.

Team India succumbed to a 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series in Colombo. The first game ended in a tie whereas the hosts won the second and third game by 32 and 110 runs respectively. In fact, it is the first time in 27 years that India has lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka.

As per the FTP, India have no ODI assignments for the rest of the year. After a disappointing series failure, Gautam Gambhir would certainly get back to the drawing board and analyze the shortcomings. He would need to address several pressing issues in the team’s ODI setup before it’s too late.

1. Clarity on the Wicketkeeper-batter position

With the Champions Trophy scheduled to be played next year, it is imperative for Team India to select a wicketkeeper who brings experience and stability to the team. It is no secret that KL Rahul stands out as the right man for the job owing to his proven track record in the 50-over set-up.

He possesses a truckload of experience, both as a batter and as a wicketkeeper. As a result, having him in the team will give more balanced combination to the team as well. KL Rahul who has played ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is someone who understands the pressures of high-stakes tournaments.

For sure, he will be a key asset in the team’s preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025. On the contrary, Rishabh Pant has been inconsistent in ODIs. He averages 33.5 in the format, scoring 871 runs including 1 century and 5 fifties but KL Rahul averages 49.1. He scored 2851 runs including 7 centuries and 18 fifties.

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