International cricket is about delivering and not grooming someone, says former India captain Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has said that India should abandon their pursuit for a fast-bowling all-rounder and instead develop them in domestic cricket rather than replacing them frequently at the international level.

Due to Hardik Pandya’s injury problems over the last three years, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has experimented with a number of players in the all-rounder position in both limited overs and Test cricket.

Gambhir responded to this by saying to Sports Today, “Don’t go for it if you don’t have anything. You must accept the situation and move on. Don’t try to make something you can’t do; that is the source of the problem.”

“I have always believed that international cricket is all about delivering and not grooming someone. Grooming happens in domestic and India A level.

When you represent your country, you should be ready to go out there and perform straightaway,” he said.

Earlier, this month, Venkatesh Iyer was given a chance in the three-match ODI series in South Africa as an all-rounder. However, he didn’t get a chance to bowl in the first match and was then dropped for the third match.

He was rested from the ODI side that will host the West Indies from February 6, which raised several eyebrows. Gambhir said that once a player has been selected, he has to be given a longer run.

“We keep talking about not having an all-rounder since Kapil Dev to be honest.

So move on and try to develop people at the Ranji Trophy and once they get ready, get them in international cricket and stick with them. Don’t keep changing them quickly.

We have seen that with so many guys like Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube and now Venkatesh Iyer. We need to move on,” added Gambhir.