Indian cricket is at a crossroads after a humiliating series defeat 2-0 to South Africa in Guwahati, which is their worst in 25 years on home soil. In the aftermath of such a defeat, head coach Gautam Gambhir has left his future entirely in the hands of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, stating that Indian cricket is bigger than any individual.
Will Gautam Gambhir be Sacked as Head Coach?
Speaking on his role henceforth, Gambhir said, “It is for the BCCI to decide. Indian cricket is important; I am not important. I am the same guy who got results in England, won the Champions Trophy, and the Asia Cup. This is a team which is learning.” He made it amply clear that he was not lobbying for his position and he respects the board’s authority on determining the way ahead.
Who’s To Blame For The Series Loss?
Gambhir admitted that the blame for India’s 408-run loss against South Africa starts with him. “Blame lies with everyone, starts with me,” he said, highlighting the collective responsibility of the team. The Indian squad struggled to recover from promising starts, exemplified by a collapse from 95/1 to 122/7, reflecting deeper issues in both batting and mindset.
Gautam Gambhir on Singling Out Individuals
Gambhir insisted that no one individual should be blamed for the defeat. “We need to play better. You don’t blame any individual or any particular shot. Blame lies with everyone. I never blamed individuals and won’t do it going forward,” he added. The coach is keen to foster accountability across the team without creating divisions or singling out players.
What Kind Of Players Does India Need?
On the kind of players India needs to play Test cricket, Gambhir believed that resilience is more important than flair. “You don’t need the most flamboyant and talented cricketers to play Test cricket. What we need is tough characters with limited skills. They make good Test cricketers,” he said, underlining his preference for grit over glamour in the longest format.
How Can India Bounce Back In Tests?
Gambhir signed off by calling for a collective effort to make India’s Test structure more robust. “Start giving priority to Test cricket if you are really serious about Test cricket. If you are serious about Test cricket in India, it needs a collective effort. You just can’t blame only players or a certain individual,” he said, stressing on the need for structural focus and unity ahead.
