After becoming the head coach of the Indian cricket team, Gautam Gambhir’s tenure so far has proved to be disappointing. Under his leadership, India lost the ODI series on the Sri Lanka tour, suffered a 0-3 clean sweep for the first time against New Zealand, and most recently lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 in Australia. After this disappointing performance, questions are being raised from all sides on Gambhir’s strategies and decisions.
Criticism of Mohammad Kaif: Lack of strategy
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif, who has played cricket with Gambhir, openly criticized his coaching.
Kaif said:
“The best coach is the one who is better in terms of strategy. He should know how to choose the right playing eleven according to the circumstances. It is the coach’s responsibility to bring out the right combination against a strong team like Australia.”
Kaif also added that it is not possible for Gambhir to solve Virat Kohli’s technical problems right now as he has not got enough time. He said:
“Gambhir needs more time to reach this level. But it would not be wrong to say that he is not at the top of his game in terms of strategy. He is lagging behind in this area.”
Gambhir’s mistake in selection of playing XI
Kaif also raised questions about Gambhir’s selection of playing XI. He said that India started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by leaving out both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, which was a big mistake.
“It is incomprehensible not to include an all-rounder like Jadeja and a legend like Ashwin in the first Test. These are players who are important for India, and keeping them out shows a major lapse in team strategy.”
Kaif also pointed out that not playing Ashwin in the first Test was a tactical mistake, even though India could win that match because of Jasprit Bumrah’s performance.
Why was advice given to Gambhir?
Referring to Gambhir’s press conference, Kaif said that he could not give a clear answer on the team’s mistakes. He said:
“Whatever happened between Samson and Kohli is a separate issue. The real issue is how did you lose three Tests in the home series against New Zealand? And despite arriving in Australia with a squad of 19 players, why was Jadeja not played in the first Test? Why were players like Ashwin out?”
Kaif suggested that Gambhir should clarify these mistakes and work on his strategy to avoid such mistakes in future.
Does Gambhir need more time?
Gautam Gambhir was known for his aggressive and smart strategies during his playing days. But till now his performance as a coach has not been of that level.
- Consecutive series losses against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia have raised questions on his coaching.
- There is criticism regarding his strategy and selection of playing XI.
