The Delhi and District Cricket Association is unhappy with veteran batsman Gautam Gambhir over certain “disciplinary issues” and may be dropped for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 tournament which starts on January 9, reported Times of India.
Gambhir has had a few run-ins with the Delhi board over the past year. He was earlier handed a four-match ban following an ugly confrontation coach KP Bhaskar. Just when it seemed like the tide had turned following Delhi reaching the Ranji Trophy final after a gap of 10 years, before losing to first-time winners Vidarbha.
“There are disciplinary issues with Gambhir. He has not been with the team the way he should have been,” a source was quoted as saying. “His name is on the team sheet but with a question mark. His selection will come with a rider.”
The report also stated that the selectors – Atul Wassan, Hari Gidwani and Robin Singh – drafted a team and have submitted it to Justice Vikramjit Sen, the administrator at DDCA. However, the list will not be released. The team manager, though, has not sent in a formal report.
Gambhir was Delhi’s highest run-getter during the recently concluded season with 683 runs but questions have risen over his commitment to the team’s cause, “Gambhir used to travel on his own,” the source added. “He arrived only on the eve of matches and left immediately after the match got over. But that has been the case with most established cricketers.”
Before the start of the season, the 36-year-old was put on notice by Justice Sen. Following this, the southpaw decided to step away from captaincy and rookie Rishabh Pant was handed over the reins.