Sunil Gavaskar Defends Gautam Gambhir Amid Criticism Over Home Test Series Loss
Former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has come to the defense of Gautam Gambhir, who has faced intense criticism following India’s recent home Test series loss to South Africa. India suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of the Proteas, with the second Test ending in a 408-run loss, the heaviest defeat by runs on home soil.
Gavaskar questioned the logic of blaming Gambhir for the team’s poor performance, pointing out that the same critics had not credited him for the team’s successes in the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup earlier this year. He argued that it is unfair to single out Gambhir for blame when the team loses, but not recognize his contributions to the team’s victories.
The 76-year-old cricket icon also expressed concerns about the scheduling of matches, suggesting that the short turnaround time between series can leave the team with inadequate preparation time. He noted that India’s schedule is often dictated by market forces, with the team being asked to play in other countries frequently to boost TV revenue. Gavaskar emphasized the need for the Indian cricket board to prioritize the team’s home season and schedule matches accordingly.
Gambhir himself has left the decision about his future to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but highlighted his achievements as coach, including the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup wins. The team will next face South Africa in a three-match ODI series starting on November 30.
The debate surrounding Gambhir’s future as coach has sparked a wider discussion about the team’s performance and the factors contributing to their recent losses. As India looks to regroup and prepare for upcoming series, the role of the coach and the scheduling of matches are likely to remain key areas of focus. With the team’s next series just around the corner, the BCCI and the coaching staff will be under pressure to deliver improved results and address the concerns raised by Gavaskar and others.
