Ravi Shastri Critiques Gautam Gambhir Amid India's Test Cricket Struggles
Shastri's Criticism of India's Test Performance
Ravi Shastri, the former captain of India and now a commentator, has expressed his discontent with the current head coach, Gautam Gambhir, regarding the downturn in India's Test cricket performance. This criticism follows a disappointing series against South Africa, where India faced a whitewash.
After suffering a 30-run defeat in Kolkata, India experienced an even more significant setback, losing by 408 runs, marking their largest Test defeat on home soil. This series loss comes after a previous home whitewash against New Zealand last October.
Concerns Over India's Recent Test Series
In their last three home Test series, India has managed to secure only one victory against the West Indies, while they were whitewashed by both New Zealand and South Africa. This trend has raised alarms about the decline of India's dominance in Test cricket under Gambhir's leadership, leading to increased pressure on the coaching staff to rectify the situation.
Batting Collapse in Guwahati Test
During the second Test of the series, India's batting lineup faced a severe collapse, particularly in the first innings, where they plummeted from 95/2 to 122/7, losing five wickets for just 27 runs. This incident has intensified concerns regarding the team's batting fragility under Gambhir's guidance.
In a discussion on the Prabhat Khabar Podcast, Shastri expressed his astonishment at the batting collapse, emphasizing that players must shoulder some responsibility. He remarked, "What happened in Guwahati – from 100/1, you skip to 130/7 – this team is not that bad either. They have this much talent at least. The players should take some responsibility, too."
Shastri's Stance on Gambhir's Accountability
As calls to dismiss Gautam Gambhir as head coach grow louder, several former Indian cricketers, including Suresh Raina and Sourav Ganguly, have defended him. However, Shastri has refrained from offering protection to Gambhir, insisting that he must also be held accountable for the team's poor performance.
Shastri stated, "I’m not protecting him. 100 percent (he is responsible too). When am I saying anything otherwise?" He added that had he been in Gambhir's position, he would have taken responsibility and addressed the players directly in team meetings.
Gambhir's Coaching Record Under Scrutiny
Gautam Gambhir's coaching record in Test matches has been underwhelming, with only seven wins, ten losses, and two draws in 19 matches over the past 14 months, resulting in a win percentage of just 36.84%. This statistic highlights the significant decline in the team's Test performance during his tenure.
Despite the ongoing criticism and the second consecutive home Test series whitewash, reports suggest that the BCCI is unlikely to take any immediate action against Gambhir, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching and his contract extending until 2027.