Gambhir has come down heavily on Bhaskar claiming the coach is ruining careers of young cricketers. (TOI Photo... Read More

NEW DELHI: With Delhi's torrid domestic season coming to an end, coach Bhaskar Pillai and senior most player Gautam Gambhir have got into an ugly tangle with accusations floating against Gambhir abusing the coach. However, Gambhir, who was replaced by Rishabh Pant as the Delhi captain for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, has come down heavily on Bhaskar claiming the coach is ruining careers of young cricketers.

"There was nothing abusive said to him. Yes we had an argument but that was about the team composition," a fuming Gambhir said as he accused the coach of creating an insecure environment in the team and lying to the players about each other.

"The only problem I had with him throughout the season is that we tried to build a secure environment for the young players who are 23-24. There has been a culture in the past when Delhi players got very insecure. Even during my younger days I faced the same problem. That is why I stuck to a same group of players irrespective of their clubs."

Gambhir had tried to carry out a transition in Delhi cricket by dropping veterans like Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia and Punit Bisht. "Look at what he has done with Unmukt Chand and Nitish Rana ," the 35-year-old opener brought up reference point.

"Unmukt was appointed the captain at the start of the season and now they have dropped him. I believe he didn't get an IPL contract because he was dropped two days before the auction. Rana has played in Duleep trophy, he is in the first XI of Mumbai Indians and then the coach decides to send him and Pawan Negi back after three bad matches and called back Unmukt. You drop people but you don't send them back. It hurts their confidence. Don't ruin their careers."

When the captaincy was given to Pant, there were rumours that the players weren't very happy with Gambhir around. The feisty left-hander doesn't buy that argument and said that he will quit the team if anything of that sort comes up. "If any player tells that he was not happy with me, I will immediately quit Delhi cricket. You don't have to tell me which player it is, I'll walk out," Gambhir told TOI.

"He wants young players. This bunch is already 23-24. Do you want to play the Under-19 team? If you are dropping Unmukt, Nitish on the basis of their performances in Dharamshala, then drop everyone because nobody could score in those conditions. Shikhar and me too should have been dropped."

Things have got worse in the team with multiple changes in the team as the season wore on. And lack of clarity in the reasons given for the changes. Gambhir isn't willing to hold back.

"He is lying in front of the whole team when he dropped Unmukt. He told Unmukt that he didn't like the fact he was keeping wickets for the zone team. He should have said that in the selection meeting. The first day I met Bhaskar, I told him that this is the best bunch we have and we should try to back them. If you want to make changes, then convey it to the players."

With all the bitterness around, Gambhir wants to maintain a good rapport with his fellow players. "I have spoken to the players. For me, the players are far more important. Even the last day spoke to them after the argument. Things will get better. There has to be someone to stand for them. Otherwise there will only be changes."

On Rishabh Pant

Not only me, everyone will support Rishabh Pant. The first advice I gave him was to take your own decisions. Decisions will backfire, fail but it should always be the captain's call. If he is ever in doubt, I am there to help you.

