Debates in dressing room should stay there; honest words have been said: Gautam Gambhir
Sydney (PTI): Asserting that "debates" in the dressing room should not come out in public domain, India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said he has had some "honest" conversations with his players as only performance can help them stay in the set-up.
Gambhir also side-stepped queries on whether out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma will get a place in the final XI for the fifth and final Test against Australia starting on Friday. Amid speculation of unrest in the dressing room, the feisty head coach sought to douse the fire by declaring that they were "just reports, not truth".
"Debates between coach and player should remain in dressing room. Stern words. They were just reports not truth," Gambhir said in the pre-match press meet here. "Indian cricket will be in safe hands till honest people stay in the dressing room. Only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance," he added. "There were honest words and honesty is important," he asserted.
Gambhir refused to say whether Rohit will get a place in the team. The question thrown at him was why the captain had not come to address the match-eve press conference as is the norm and if he is there in the final XI. "Everything is fine with Rohit. The head coach is here and that should be enough. We will decide on the playing XI after looking at the pitch," Gambhir said.
The former opener also said his discussions with senior batter Virat Kohli and Rohit have only been about strategies to win the ongoing Test series. "Every individual knows what are the areas to work on. We have only had one conversation with them (and that is) how to win Test matches," he said.
Gambhir also confirmed that pacer Akash Deep will miss the New Year Test with a stiff back, though he refrained from naming a replacement for him. Although he refused to analyse individuals when asked about the questionable shot selection of players like Rishabh Pant in crunch situations, Gambhir did assert that the team's interest is paramount. "I don't want to talk about individuals. Team first ideology matters. People can play natural game but in team sport, individuals only contribute," he said.
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Six pythons rescued from house in Karwar
Karwar: Six pythons were rescued from a residential premises in Katinakona area of Karwar on Sunday, causing panic among local residents.
The pythons were found amid construction material stocked on the house premises. Forest officials were alerted, following which Forest Guard Gopal Naika reached the spot and safely rescued the reptiles.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, Naika said the pythons measured between 8 and 12 feet in length. All of them were later released into the forest.
“Initial days of summer is the mating season for snakes. It is natural for males of the species to come in search of females for mating. Hence, they are found in large number in one location,” Naika said.
