 "Gautam Gambhir refuses to resign as Test coach, recalls his white-ball success: ‘Indian cricket is important, I am not’")
“Indian cricket is important, I am not important,” declared Gautam Gambhir as he pushed the ball in BCCI’s court when asked about his future as head coach in the post-match press conference after India were white-washed for the second time in their last three Test series at home on Wednesday.
South Africa dished out a clinical performance to trounce India by 408 runs in the second Test in Guwahati and win the series 2-0. The margin of defeat is now India’s worst in their Test cricket history and this is also the first time in over four decades that India have lost Test series at home in consecutive years.
Is Gambhir right choice for head coach in Tests?
Gambhir has been criticised heavily on social media for his decision making as head coach. The former India opener has overseen some disastrous results in red ball cricket so far in his coaching career. Under him, India lost to New Zealand at home 3-0 which was the team’s first series loss at home since 2012-13 and also the first time in history that the Indian side was white-washed in a three-match series at home. India also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2015 under Gambhir.
With fans demanding his ouster, the head coach reminded his critics of his success in white ball cricket and on the England tour earlier this year, where India drew 2-2 with England away from home.
“It is for the BCCI to decide. Indian cricket is important, I am not important,” Gambhir said at the press conference after being asked if he considered himself the best man for the job of head coach.
“People keep forgetting it. I am the same guy who got results in England with a young team. You guys will forget very soon. A lot of people keep talking about New Zealand. I am the same guy under whom we won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup as well. This is a team which has less experience and I have said it before, they need to keep learning and they are doing everything possible to turn the tide,” he added.
India vs South Africa: ‘Blame starts with me’
Gambhir pointed out that the game-changing moment was India’s collapse on the third day of the second Test when the team went from 95/1 to 122/7.
“The blame lies with everyone and starts with me,” he conceded.
“We need to play better. From 95/1 to 122/7 is not acceptable. 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.
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