 "Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has come to Gautam Gambhir's defence, saying that the India head coach when the players aren't delivering. Image: PTI/AP")
Gautam Gambhir has been facing a barrage of criticism ever since India suffered a 408-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa in Guwahati on Wednesday, which resulted in the Proteas completing a 2-0 sweep and winning a Test series on Indian soil after 25 years.
India have been subjected to two Test series whitewashes at home since Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as head coach, with the Tom Latham-led New Zealand inflicting a 3-0 sweep on the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team last year.
And the defeat against reigning world champions South Africa has led to calls for sacking Gambhir growing louder over the last couple of days.
Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, however, has gone against the flow and defended Gambhir, stating that the head coach can only do so much when it’s the players who aren’t performing as expected on the field.
Players have to deliver, says ‘Sunny G’
Gavaskar added that if fans did not credit Gambhir for the Men in Blue’s triumphs in the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, then pinning the blame for the Test whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa on him did not feel fair either.
“He’s a coach. The coach can prepare a team. The coach can tell, you know, a guy with his experience. But it’s out there in the middle that the players have to deliver. Now, to those who are asking, you know, for him to be held accountable, my question, counter-question is: what did you do when India won the Champions Trophy under him? What did you do when India won the Asia Cup under him?” Gavaskar told India Today.
“Did you say then—you’re asking for a sacking now—did you say then that he should be given an extended contract, a contract for life for one day cricket and for T20 cricket? You didn’t say that. It’s only when a team doesn’t do well you look at the coach,” he added.
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The BCCI, meanwhile, isn’t likely to take any stern action against Gambhir anytime soon despite the clamour for him to be removed as head coach, at least in the Test format. India will not be playing Test cricket until August next year, when they travel to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series.
Gambhir’s focus will, instead, now shift to the T20 World Cup that takes place from 7 February and 8 March and will be co-hosted by defending champions India and former winners Sri Lanka.