Harbhajan Singh Critiques Coaching System After India's Test Failures

Harbhajan Singh's Insights on India's Coaching Challenges

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has shared his thoughts on the current coaching structure in India following the disappointing performance of the Asian Giants team under Gautam Gambhir's leadership in Test cricket. Over the past two years, India has faced two significant defeats on home soil. After a humiliating 0-3 loss to New Zealand in 2024, the team suffered another setback in 2025, losing 0-2 to South Africa at home.

The defeat against New Zealand not only marked a low point but also ended India's illustrious Test reign, which had been effectively managed by captains like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma for over a decade. This loss prevented the once-dominant Indian team from qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final, and the recent defeat against the Proteas could further hinder their chances, depending on future outcomes.

Conversely, Gambhir led India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy held in Dubai, showcasing the team's strong performance in white-ball formats. In a conversation with a media outlet, Harbhajan emphasized the responsibilities that come with being the coach of the Indian cricket team. He pointed out that when the team performs well, silence prevails, but when results falter, the coach becomes the target of criticism.

Harbhajan remarked that becoming the coach of India is no easy task. It requires constant travel with the team throughout the year and active involvement in the game. He noted that one must remain vigilant, especially during team selections and match outcomes. In India, it is customary for people to remain quiet when the team excels, but they quickly turn on the coach when performance dips.

He further commented that Gambhir does not participate in the playing aspect anymore. During his playing days, he performed admirably for India. Harbhajan urged everyone to exercise patience. He mentioned that while there may be discussions about dividing coaching responsibilities between white-ball and red-ball formats, there is no immediate need for such a division. However, if the situation demands it in the future, it could certainly be considered.