Why did India stick with Abhishek Sharma? Gautam Gambhir explains selection ideology

T20 World Cup: Gautam Gambhir explained why India continued backing Abhishek Sharma despite his lean run in the T20 World Cup. The gamble paid off as the young opener smashed a record-breaking fifty in the final.

India’s decision to persist with Abhishek Sharma despite his prolonged lean run in the T20 World Cup raised plenty of questions throughout the tournament. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir has now explained why the team management continued to back the young opener.

India went on to lift their third T20 World Cup title after defeating New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Speaking exclusively to India Today’s sister channel AajTak, Gambhir said the team’s selection philosophy was built around trust and impact rather than short-term form.

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“Look, you pick players based on trust and faith, not on hope. If you pick someone based on trust and faith, you cannot take that away after four or five matches. But if you pick someone only on hope, then you might lose that hope very quickly,” Gambhir said.

“Whether it’s Abhishek or any of the 15 players in that dressing room, we trust all of them. Whenever they get an opportunity at any stage of the competition, they will deliver for the team. The most important thing for this team was putting the team ahead of themselves.”

Gambhir explained how him and the rest of the Indian team's coaching staff evaluated players not only by the runs they score but by the intent and impact they bring to the game.