MyKhel Exclusive | 'Gautam Gambhir has not been in control, Team India needs different captains for every format,' claims Surinder Khanna

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If Indian cricket is the theatre of absurdity, then its dramatis personae deserve special mention. It was not brave of coach Gautam Gambhir but an obvious insistence from the BCCI high command he faced the media at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on the eve of the fifth and final Test in the BGT Series, starting on Friday (January 3).

Gambir spoke mostly banal stuff, on Thursday (January 2). Does he have the courage to drop skipper Rohit Sharma or will Hitman rest himself, we will know before the toss, on Friday. IND vs AUS: Gautam Gambhir Stresses On Dressing Room Unity Amid Media Reports of Rift Within Team India

On Guru Gambhir losing his grip over Team India

"A coach holds a responsible position and he is the father figure in the team. If he is not able to handle the heat, too bad. Ok, let me put it this way, if you are in a corporate set-up and the boss is unhappy with your work, there will be a conversation and issues get resolved.

"What has happened in the Indian dressing room is what I read from what you all are writing," Surinder Khanna, former India cricketer who believes in calling a spade a spade, told MyKhel. Also Read: IND vs AUS: Team India disintegrates, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma owe apology to the nation

Frank and forthright, Khanna did not mince words. "A coach has to be in control. Losing the three-Test series to New Zealand was awful, we were playing at home. And after winning the first Test in Perth, India lost the momentum. The coach has to be held responsible as well," said Khanna a frank cricket expert on radio, television and even YouTube. Like every Indian cricket supporter, he wants to see the team do well in Sydney.

On Split Captaincy in Indian Cricket

Surinder Khanna has seen Delhi cricket as well very closely. So, if he is being critical of Gambhir the coach, he has a right to do so. Taking a macro view of Indian cricket, Khanna feels the time has come to take drastic decisions. He is in favour of split captaincy, different leaders for different formats.

"Look at England, they have different teams for different teams. There may be an overlap, but not more than two or three players will be in the T20 side and the Test side," the 68-year-old Khanna.

"India need three captains and three different teams as well. There is plenty of talent, and youngsters today are fearless. We have Suryakumar Yadav as captain for the T20Is. I would love to see someone like Shubman Gill as the ODI captain, though he is himself battling fitness and form issues.

On the future of Rohit-Virat

"I mean, there is a debate on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They are legends, what they have done for India is massive. But we need to look at the future as well. There is so much cricket to be played over the next three years, so if you ask me, let's split captaincy and the teams," stressed Khanna, who has played 10 ODIs and 106 First Class games for India.

On Bumrah As Test Captain

He also agreed that Jasprit Bumrah could be the next Test captain. For those who say he is facing workload issues, it is Akash Deep who has collapsed and dropped for the fifth Test. Also Read: MyKhel Exclusive | Madan Lal Sees Jasprit Bumrah As Next India Test Captain

On patchy middle-order and treatment of Sarfaraz Khan

Khanna was also quick to point out selection woes. "What kind of a middle order is this, you are not playing Sarfaraz Khan. What happened to him," said Khanna. When prodded there are rumours he has not been disciplined, even partying in Australia, Khanna laughed.

"Brother, discipline is fine but are you going to enforce Army kind of discipline, it won't work. (Bishan) Bedi Sahab could have a few drinks at night and come out the next morning and run through a whole side, the same for Chandra (Bhagwat Chandrasekhar).

"Dear Vishy (GRV) could down a few beers and come out with a smashing century the next morning. Please, lame excuses for Sarfaraz, won't work," added Khanna. Point blank. Who will explain why Sarfaraz has been a tourist in Australia?