‘Maybe there’s a conflict’ – Dinesh Karthik hints at ‘friction’ between Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar after India’s T20I struggles

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has suggested that there could be differences in opinion between head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar following India’s disappointing T20I campaign in the United Kingdom.

India endured a forgettable tour under stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer, suffering a 2-0 series defeat against Ireland before being outplayed 4-0 by England in the five-match T20I series. The poor results have put Gambhir under scrutiny, while the team selection during the tour has also come under the scanner.

One of the major talking points was the handling of Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old, who impressed during IPL 2026, was tipped to make his T20I debut against Ireland. However, Samson retained his place in the XI before being dropped after three underwhelming outings.

Sooryavanshi was then handed his opportunity but failed to make an impact before being left out for the fifth T20I against England, allowing Samson to return to the side.

Karthik said the frequent changes in the playing XI pointed towards a possible disconnect between the coach and the selection panel.

“A bit of friction between the chief selector and head coach. I feel Agarkar has long-term plans, and the current coach is saying, “You know, I want to win every game I play.” Hence, the confusion we see unfolding before us. Is it ideal for the players? Definitely not,” Karthik said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

He further explained that such uncertainty could affect players’ confidence, especially in a team with immense competition for places.

“I mean, if you are from India, imagine the bench strength you have? Everyone is thinking that if I have a couple of bad games, anyone can replace me. On top of that, this happens, it’s definitely a situation that India needs to be aware of and rectify as soon as possible,” he added.

Karthik also shared his view that Agarkar and Gambhir may be approaching team selection with different objectives.

“I think the chief selector Agarkar has an eye on the future, and he wants to see the group of players around. Meanwhile, Gambhir might be thinking, ‘I want to win every series because it’s my name on the line.’ So, maybe there’s a conflict; it looks like that,” said Karthik.

Following India’s underwhelming T20I performances in the UK, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already confirmed that it will conduct a review of the team’s campaign. 

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