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SPORTS FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 40

ANIL KUMBLE

Look beyond T20Is and focus on white ball

World Cup 2027: Former coach to Team India

With Gambhir at the helm, India has emerged as a T20I giant, boasting 16 wins with just two

defeats. However, Gambhir has yet to establish his credentials as a coach in the ODI and Test formats

OUR BUREAU has emerged as a T20I giant, boasting
16 wins with just two defeats. Howev-
Mumbai
er, Gambhir has yet to establish his
n Thursday, India began its credentials as a coach in the ODI and
Champions Trophy campaign Test formats.
Oagainst Bangladesh in Dubai, Under his supervision, India lost a
with experienced stars including Rohit bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka
Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja for the first time in 27 years. In Test
and Mohammed Shami featuring in format, India endured a heartbreak-
the playing XI. ing 3-0 whitewash at home against
But former spinner and India New Zealand. India then travelled to
captain Anil Kumble believes it is time Australia and failed to defend the Bor-
for India to implement its transition der-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time
plans in white-ball cricket after the in a decade with a 3-1 series defeat.
conclusion of the ongoing Champi- Kumble feels India needs to in-
ons Trophy and build a young team to fuse young blood into the squad and
compete in the 2027 ODI World Cup. give them enough time to gel before
Kumble was speaking on ESPNcricin- the 2027 ODI World Cup.
fo’s Matchday show. “In any World Cup, you’re look-
Kumble feels head coach Gautam ing at building a squad that has played
Gambhir would need to make “tough at least 20 or 25 matches together.
calls” irrespective of how India fares That’s when you understand the nu-
in the current tournament. ances of match situations, and who
“You could say this is a very im- to rely on. Ideally, at the end of this
portant tournament for a coach who Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the match against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy, tournament, you must start looking
has to make those tough calls in terms ahead to the next World Cup. Do the
of transitioning from the legacy play- 2025, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Thursday (ANI) seniors make it there? Or do we give
ers to the others. But that’s the job of the opportunity to youngsters to take
the coach, to make those hard deci- mine where those seniors would go, the earliest. You need to start looking the team forward in the shorter for-
sions,” Kumble said on ESPNcricin- and where India would look at mak- ahead in white-ball cricket, especially mats and build a strong unit? These
fo’s Matchday show. ing those changes. Win or lose, you at the 2027 World Cup,” he added. are questions Gambhir needs to ad-
“This tournament could deter- need these tough calls to be made at With Gambhir at the helm, India dress,” he said.

Rohit Sharma becomes second fastest to 11,000 ODI runs

ndia captain Rohit Sharma etched his name The seasoned opener continued to ride high the first four of the sixth over. On the following
in the history book by surpassing the ‘Mas- on his fire form against Bangladesh. It wasn’t a delivery, he ambled down the ground and lofted
Iter Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar to become the typical ‘Hitman’ onslaught, which usually begins the ball over mid-off for his second four in the
second-fastest to 11,000 ODI runs by innings on just a few deliveries into his inning. He took his over. On the penultimate delivery of the over,
Thursday. time, understood the nature of the surface and Rohit dragged the pull and found a thick outside
During India’s Champions Trophy open- then opened his arms to his free will. edge to pick his third boundary in the over.
ing clash against Bangladesh in Dubai, Rohit He sniffed blood on the first delivery of the He continued to be Mustafizur’s worst night-
achieved the feat by sending the ball towards the third over after tucking the ball away to the unoc- mare before skewing it to Rishad Hossain off
boundary rope for a four. cupied backward square-leg fence. Rohit arrived Taskin Ahmed. Rohit returned to the dressing
Rohit raced past the 11,000-run mark in the at the special landmark in the same over, and be- room with a quick-fire 41(36), laced with a whop-
ODIs in 261, 15 fewer than Sachin’s 276 innings. came the fourth Indian to achieve the feat. ping seven fours.
India stalwart Virat Kohli maintains the record Rohit toyed with crafty seamer Mustafizur Overall, Rohit now boasts 11,029 runs in 269
for the fastest 11,000 ODI runs, achieving the Rahman and thrashed him across the ground. He matches (261 innings) at an average of 49.01,
feat in just 222 innings. dispatched the ball over cover-point to pick up with 32 centuries and 57 fifties.

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