Ajinkya Rahane Questions Gautam Gambhir's Management: 'It's Always About...'

India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane on Monday questioned the Gautam Gambhir-led national team management for the lack of security given to the players and for making ‘too many changes’. Rahane said that if

India want to seriously build for the 2027 World Cup, they’ll need to provide ‘clarity’ to all players.

Rahane was speaking after India’s 1-2 ODI series defeat to a depleted New Zealand side at home. The defeat, a first to the Kiwis at home, exposed several soft points in the team, with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Rohit Sharma performing several notches below expectations and the team balance looking wobbly.

“See, there will be tough questions. India lost five ODIs in the last nine. And that’s the reason: too many changes. Again, that’s why I said: you are looking at the World Cup, where players actually need that security, that clarity from management. If you are going to play certain players in that format, it’s always about clarity,” Rahane said on Cricbuzz.

“So yes, tough questions will be asked, which is very natural, I feel, because especially the fans, the Indian cricket is so connected. Everyone wants India to do well, India to win the match, India to win the series, especially in India. Playing against New Zealand, which was probably the New Zealand A or B team, due respect to all the players. But expectations were there that we all thought that India would win easily, probably 3-0,” he added.

“But the way New Zealand has played was amazing… I feel from the Indians’ point of view, they just need to follow the process. Just see which are the players you are going to bag them because six months down the line, you’re going to play your ODI cricket,” he said.