Former Pakistan pacer labels Gautam Gambhir's appointment as Team India's head coach 'Parchi'

Following the conclusion of Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team after their T20 World Cup 2024 victory, Gautam Gambhir was appointed as his successor. This marked a new chapter for the team, as key players such as Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from T20Is. Despite speculation surrounding WV Raman and National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief VVS Laxman, Gambhir emerged as the frontrunner for the position.

While Gambhir's appointment was met with approval from the majority of experts and fans, former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed expressed dissenting views. Ahmed took to social media to criticize Gambhir's selection, labeling it as a "parchi case" and advocating for VVS Laxman to be chosen as head coach based on his work with young players.

In cricketing jargon, the term "parchi" refers to a player being selected based on external sources or recommendations rather than merit. 

"VVS Laxman should have become the head coach of the Indian team because he has been with the India B team as coach for a long time. It seems as if Gautam Gambhir's appointment is a 'parchi' case," the former Pakistan cricket team star posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

VVS Laxman ko indian team ka head caoch hona chahiye tha kyun k woh india B k sath kafi time say head coach kam kar raha ha lagta ha Gautham Gambhir parchi par aya ha

— Tanveer Says (@ImTanveerA) July 22, 2024

Gautam Gambhir assumed the role of head coach for the Indian men's cricket team on Tuesday. This transition took place as the team commenced their preparations for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Taking over from the esteemed Rahul Dravid, Gambhir led the team onto the field and supervised their initial practice session. The session encompassed various fielding drills and interactive sessions with the players.

The training primarily focused on running, catching, and individual player engagements. The newly appointed T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, actively participated in discussions with the team members. Gambhir was observed providing batting tips to Sanju Samson and engaging in a conversation with all-rounder Shivam Dube.

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