In the Boxing Day Test match played in Melbourne, Team India had to face defeat by 184 runs, even though they were in a position to draw the match. The Indian team lost 7 wickets in just 20.4 overs. After this defeat, Indian team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir looked aggressive in the dressing room and expressed his displeasure over the form of the senior players and their mentality towards the game. Gambhir gave a clear message to the players that they have to play as per the game situation and now expressed his opinion by saying “enough is enough”.
Gautam Gambhir took over as coach on July 9 and said that in the last six months, he had allowed the players to play as per their wish, but now they themselves will decide how the team will play. He warned the players that those who did not follow his pre-determined strategy would be dropped from the team.
After falling 1-2, India’s chances of reaching the WTC final are almost over. There is only one way out: India has to win the Sydney Test and Australia has to lose at least one match against Sri Lanka.
Gambhir discussed the team’s intentions and conflict of interest and told the players that they were playing on their own accord rather than “discussed plans”. On the final day of the Melbourne Test, Virat Kohli’s dismissal and Rishabh Pant’s inefficient shot play proved decisive for the team’s comeback.
Indian cricket sources have said that the atmosphere in the dressing room is far from ideal and some tension has increased recently. Gambhir had suggested the inclusion of Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara in the squad, which was rejected by the selectors, while he also stressed the importance of Pujara after winning the Perth Test.
