India will have a new squad for the white-ball matches against Sri Lanka under head coach Gautam Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid. Dravid’s tenure as a head coach ended with the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir’s childhood coach further said the new coach could consider Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Navdeep Saini for selection.

Gambhir’s childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, said that the two-time World Cup-winning player can get the best out of cricketers. He is confident that India will reach new heights with Gambhir at the helm.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Gambhir’s childhood coach further said the new coach could consider Kuldeep Yadav and pacer Navdeep Saini for selection.

Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri did not give Navdeep enough chances during their tenures as captain and head coach. Even in Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid’s stints as skipper and coach, Saini was not considered.

“He could select players like Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini. They are his products. He did the same with Sunil Narine in IPL 2024. His observation and cricketing acumen are always outstanding,” Bharadwaj said.

I want to see him as captain in T20 WC' - Gautam Gambhir wants Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to continue playing T20Is

Kuldeep was part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup 2024. He took 10 wickets in five matches. However, Yadav doesn’t consistently play Test matches. He is not even regular in ODIs.

Pacer Saini last played for India in 2021. “Gambhir has a habit of taking on tough challenges. He won the two World Cups for India and was instrumental in KKR’s three title wins,” he added.