Legendary Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff after India failed to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, losing a five-match Test series in Australia 3-1. For the first time in 10 years, Australia beat India in a Test series as the Asian giants’ bid to complete an Australian hat-trick came to a grinding halt.
AUS vs IND, 5th Test Match: Full Scorecard
Gavaskar, speaking to the broadcasters after India lost the Sydney Test by six wickets, said that while players deserve criticism for not stepping up in Australia, the coaches should also be held accountable. The former captain highlighted that India’s batting failures began in the home series against New Zealand and continued without resolution during the Australian tour, adding that it was something the coaching group of Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate failed to address in time.
India crossed the 200-run mark only thrice in 10 innings as they failed to make use of the edge gained after winning the series opener in Perth. The Australian flop show came after the humiliation at home when New Zealand out-batted and out-bowled India to clinch an unprecedented 3-0 series win in India.
“What was the coaching staff doing? Batting coach? Against New Zealand, India were bowled out for 46. In the remaining matches, they were not able to do well, and they lost the series. There was no character in the batting order. In Australia too, India lacked solidity in the batting order,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“We have to ask questions: ‘Brothers, what did you do? Why is there no improvement?’ If you tell me the bowling was unplayable (in both series) and then our batters were not able to stand up to it, then it’s okay. Even the best players can’t face unplayable bowling. But it was not the case.
“Tell me, what have you done?”
SHOULD COACHING STAFF CONTINUE?
Gavaskar emphasised that if players are scrutinised for their poor performances and their futures are questioned, coaches shouldn’t be exempt.
There has been plenty of debate about the Test futures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after their failures with the bat in Australia. While Rohit managed just 31 runs in three Tests before dropping himself for the fifth Test, Kohli scored 194 runs across five Tests at an average of 23.75. However, after the hundred in Perth, he managed just 85 runs in the last four Tests of the series.
“In these programmes, we keep asking whether this player should play in the future, that player should play in the future… I am saying we should also ask whether the coaching staff should continue.
“We have two-three months before the England tour. I am not talking about the Champions Trophy. I am a Test player. I understand ODI cricket, but not that much.
“I want to ask, ‘What did you do?’ In what way will you improve them? These ‘throwdowns, throwdowns’, nothing happens because of that. You had to help improve their technique and temperament. You didn’t do it.
“Yes, definitely question the players for not scoring runs. But ask the question to the coaches: ‘What were you doing?'”
The Gambhir era has got off to a rocky start, with India losing an ODI series in Sri Lanka and back-to-back Test series. India also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship for the first time in the tournament’s history.
