Team India coach Gautam Gambhir on Test series loss at home: 'It should hurt and that will make us better'

Head coach Gautam Gambhir said Team India was “hurting” after suffering their first Test series defeat at home in 12 years and hoped the disappointment of the loss would push his players to become better cricketers. Gambhir, additionally, did not pin the blame of the series defeat on the batters alone and that everyone in the team had to take responsibility for the loss.

“Everyone has the responsibility, I cannot say just the batters have let us down,” Gambhir told reporters on the eve of the third and final Test against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium

“I am not going to sugarcoat that it is hurting. It should hurt and that will make us better. What is wrong in being in this position? I am sure this will push the youngsters to be better cricketers.

“If we have results like Kanpur, might as well have results like this and keep moving forward,” Gambhir added.

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The hosts suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the first Test in Bengaluru after getting bowled out for 46 in the first innings, later conceding a 356-run lead, with skipper Rohit Sharma paying the price for opting to bat in overcast conditions when the New Zealand pacers were getting plenty of assistance.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner would then bamboozle the hosts on a spin-friendly wicket in Pune by collecting 13 wickets (7/53 and 6/104) as the Black Caps defeated the Indians by 113 runs to pull off their first-ever Test series victory on Indian soil.

The former India opener added that Test cricket should be played the way it is supposed to and that rotating the strike well should be as much of a priority for a batter as hitting the ball into the stands.

“A complete cricketer is one who can adapt successfully. Not just being able to hit the stands but also rotate strike successfully.

“Test cricket should be played like Test cricket. If we have to get 400 runs inside a day’s play we should be able to get it. For me it is about playing the sessions as well. If we play 4.5 sessions we will have a lot of runs on board,” he added.

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Despite surrendering an unassailable 0-2 lead to the Kiwis, the third Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium is by no means a dead rubber as valuable ICC World Test Championship points are still at stake.

India, who remain on top of the standings for now, need to win at least four out of their next six Tests which include five in Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for them to qualify for a third consecutive final.

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The hosts will thus be looking to put the disappointment of the defeats behind them and focus on winning the Mumbai Test in order to maximise their chances of featuring in the final that will take place at Lord’s, London next June. As a result of which, Rohit and Co might not be able to include youngsters who are yet to get an opportunity in the series for the upcoming fixture.

“We are not in a situation where can think of that,” Gambhir said when asked if the team would be looking to bring a fresh face into the XI at Wankhede.

India made one change to their squad by bringing in uncapped seamer Harshit Rana, who has also been included in the squad for the marquee Test series in Australia. If Gambhir’s comments are anything to go by, Rana might have to wait a little longer for his debut.

As for the Wankhede pitch that has been prepared for the series finale , the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain said that it would only be judged after both teams batted on it.

“It is just a good wicket. Very difficult for anyone to judge before both teams have batted on it,” Gambhir signed off.