Gambhir criticises India's senior cricketers over lack of role-models

India’s former opener Gautam Gambhir, in an interview on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected, criticised India’s senior cricketers over a lack of role-models, who can help young players during rough patches.

The 38-year-old, while agreeing with the comments made by legendary former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, used the examples of Indian greats such as Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar to emphasise his point.

ALSO READ: PSL will encourage foreign teams, players to visit ‘safe’ Pakistan: Atherton

“I agree with Yuvraj that there is a dearth of role models in the Indian team currently, like in the 2000s, we had Dravid, Kumble, Laxman, Sourav and Sachin to guide the team. It is important to have senior players around you who can help you when you’re going through a rough patch," said Gambhir.

"Right now, I don’t think there are enough seniors in the Indian camp, who will set aside their self-interest to help youngsters," he added.

Earlier, Yuvraj Singh had claimed that the lack of discipline in seniors was what separated the Indian team of today from the sides in the past.

“The difference I find between the team of ours and now is during our time seniors were very disciplined. Social media was not there so no distraction also,” said/Yuvraj. “We had to carry ourselves in a certain way. We used to look up to our seniors as to how they are behaving, talking to the media and so on. They used to lead the way. I learned a lot. That is what we learned from them and tell you guys also.”

The former all-rounder stressed that there was a lack of senior players in the side whom the youngsters could look up to.

“In this team, seniors are you (Rohit) and Virat (Kohli) who play all three formats. I just feel since social media has come, there are very fewer guys to look up to. That sense of respect for seniors, it has become a thin line,” he concluded.