NEW DELHI: After dominating at dwelling for 12 straight years with out dropping a single Check collection, India have now misplaced two of their final three — a 3-0 defeat to New Zealand final 12 months and a 2-0 loss to South Africa this season. Each setbacks have come beneath the tenure of head coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over in July 2024. The 408-run defeat in Guwahati was India’s heaviest loss by runs in Check cricket.As a substitute of proudly owning his errors as coach after one other debacle at dwelling, Gambhir highlighted his successes, together with a 2-2 Check collection attract England, the place India ought to have gained 3-1, and the place his obsession for further batting cushion compelled a bowler of Kuldeep Yadav’s means to heat the bench complete summer season.
He even identified his victories within the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup this 12 months. India had been the perfect group within the Champions Trophy — skill-wise they had been a superior facet — however we won’t neglect that India had been stationed on the similar resort in Dubai’s downtown space and performed all their video games on the similar venue whereas the opposite groups had been travelling backwards and forwards from Pakistan, together with the hosts. It wasn’t one thing which the Males in Blue requested for however the circumstances did give them a slight edge over their opponents.Go Past The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In September, beneath coach Gambhir, India lifted the Asia Cup – second white-ball title – after beating arch-rivals Pakistan within the closing. India had been the favourites once more and, regardless of experimenting with the center order all through the event, they went on to win the Cup.These two event wins have beefed up the trophy cupboard nevertheless it’s unusual that the southpaw who performed a pivotal position in India’s wins within the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup finals, is glorifying the Asia Cup win — one thing that simply would not sit effectively with the cricketer India has identified.“I am the identical man who acquired ends in England as effectively, with a younger group. And I am positive you guys will neglect very quickly as a result of lots of people hold speaking about New Zealand. And I am the identical man beneath whom we gained the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup as effectively,” he informed reporters in Guwahati.
Head Coach Gautam Gambhir
These feedback don’t replicate the feistiness and heart-on-his-sleeve perspective Gambhir is understood for. They sound like coming from somebody who’s all at sea along with his ideas, rattled by the current outcomes and clearly struggling to seek out the precise template in Exams.There have been mentions of transition and exit of the stalwarts and the inexperience within the change room too.“I do not suppose ever in Indian cricket one thing like this has occurred, the place the transition is occurring within the spin-bowling division and within the batting division as effectively,” he talked about.Cheteshwar Pujara, nonetheless, did not agree with the pinnacle coach’s reasoning and termed it as an excuse.“I do not purchase this that India are dropping at dwelling due to transition. I can not digest that,” Pujara informed broadcasters after India misplaced by 30 runs in Kolkata.“Should you lose in England or Australia due to transition, it could possibly be acceptable. However this group has the expertise and potential. You take a look at the first-class report of all of the gamers — Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill… Washy (Washington Sundar) batted at No. 3 on this sport — all their information are so good. Nonetheless, for those who lose at dwelling, which means one thing is unsuitable.”
Ballot
Do you suppose Gautam Gambhir ought to proceed as head coach for the Indian Check group?
That 3-0 loss final 12 months in opposition to New Zealand had value India a spot within the World Check Championship (WTC) closing, and this defeat to South Africa has seen them slip to fifth place on the present WTC desk, behind Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.India’s Check future is slipping into the doldrums, and Gambhir’s legacy is now at risk of being outlined because the coach beneath whom India’s iron grip at dwelling lastly cracked.