'Go hard in that dressing room': Gautam Gambhir told to go down heavily on culprits of India's five-wicket defeat against England in 1st Test

In the wake of India's five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley, former head coach Ravi Shastri has publicly called on his successor Gautam Gambhir to adopt a more stringent approach within the team's dressing room. Speaking with Sky Sports Cricket, Shastri talked about the need for Gambhir to firmly address recurring issues and go down heavily on the players whose repeated mistakes cost Team India big, even if it requires stern reprimands to foster a culture of responsibility.

Ravi Shastri wants Gautam Gambhir to go hard on culprits of India's defeat in Headingley Test

Shubman Gill-led team's performance was marred by significant and costly errors, most notably in their fielding. Throughout England's first innings, India dropped a total of five catches, with Yashasvi Jaiswal alone being responsible for four missed opportunities over the course of the match. These fielding lapses proved to be critical turning points, squandering advantageous positions and allowing England to build momentum and regain a foothold in the contest.

Compounding the fielding woes were repeated collapses in India's lower-middle order. Despite strong starts from the top-order batsmen in both innings, the subsequent batters failed to capitalize, leading to two significant batting implosions. This inability to maintain pressure and build on solid foundations allowed England to consistently work their way back into the match and ultimately secure victory. The apparent lack of intensity during these crucial moments has prompted calls for a more disciplined and demanding team environment.