Gautam Gambhir has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his decision to bench Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, calling it the toughest part of his coaching job. The decision to drop India’s highest T20I wicket-taker sparked widespread criticism, but Gambhir defended his approach while emphasizing the importance of honest communication.​

The Toughest Job

Speaking in a BCCI video interview released Monday, Gambhir opened up about the challenge of selecting just eleven players from a talent-rich squad. “That is the toughest part for me as a coach, and that is the toughest job I have. Sometimes, when I know there is so much quality sitting on the bench, and I know everyone deserves to be part of the playing XI, but ultimately, you can only pick 11, thinking about what is the best combination to do the job on that particular day,” he explained.​

The 44-year-old has faced severe backlash for dropping in-form players to accommodate others. Arshdeep was benched for the first two T20Is against Australia to include Harshit Rana—a decision that found few supporters.​

Arshdeep’s Impact Upon Return

When Arshdeep finally returned for the third T20I, he made an instant impact with three wickets. He followed up with figures of 1/22 in the fourth match, vindicating those who questioned his omission.​

Arshdeep is India’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 105 scalps and was the first Indian to reach 100 wickets in the format. Yet he found himself warming the bench during the Asia Cup 2025 as India employed a spin-heavy strategy with Jasprit Bumrah as the specialist pacer.​

Kuldeep’s Similar Struggles

Kuldeep Yadav has faced comparable treatment despite being regarded as one of the best spinners in world cricket. He was dropped from the T20I playing XI in Australia after a couple of games and missed selection for the first two ODIs against the Aussies.​

The left-arm wrist-spinner only features in India’s Test playing XI for home matches, despite his proven ability across formats.​

Communication is Key

Gambhir emphasized that clear, honest communication makes these difficult conversations bearable. “The communication needs to be very clear, very honest. Sometimes, obviously, those are tough conversations to have. If you tell someone that he is not playing, it is probably the toughest conversation for both the coach and the player, because I know the player would be upset when he deserves to be part of the playing XI,” he stated.​

He stressed that when conversations come from the heart with nothing hidden, players understand the reasoning. “If you are honest, if you are straightforward, if you know that what you are saying comes from the heart and there is nothing beyond that, some players do understand,” Gambhir added.​

Privacy Matters

The coach urged people not to jump to conclusions or create theories about selection decisions. “It’s a communication between a player and the coach, and I think it should stay there, rather than people making a lot of outcry and different theories about it,” he said.​

Gambhir highlighted that maintaining a transparent and honest dressing room environment is crucial. “That is something this group and the support staff have done brilliantly, because it has been a very transparent dressing room, an honest dressing room, and that is exactly how we want it to be,” he concluded.​

The Bigger Picture

Gambhir’s selections reflect his broader philosophy of creating the best combination for specific conditions rather than picking players based purely on individual merit or past performances. This approach prioritizes team balance and tactical flexibility over maintaining consistent lineups.

While controversial, his willingness to make unpopular decisions demonstrates a coach unafraid to back his judgment—even when facing intense scrutiny from fans and experts alike.