Home
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa feels that players are not being held accountable everyone is blaming Gautam Gambhir for the team's humiliating Test series loss to South Africa. Uthappa, who has played with Gambhir for both India and the Kolkata Knight Riders, appreciated Sunil Gavaskar for calling out the India head coach's critics and remarked that putting all the blame on him will not lead to any solution.
“I liked what Sunny Gavaskar said. Sunny G said you can call for his head if you called for his extension after the Champions Trophy triumph or the Asia Cup. People need someone to blame this on,” Uthappa said on his YouTube show with Jarrod Kimber.
However, Uthappa also highlighted how the Indian team has no stability in the batting order under Gambhir and further acknowledged that his strategy of having too many all-rounders hasn't benefitted the team by any means. Uthappa believes that Gambhir needs to have a rethink about his approach in Test cricket in order to get positive results in the format.
“Yes, there have been a lot of things said, and I understand where it comes from. People are saying there is no steady batting order, there are too many changes, fewer specialists and more all-rounders in the squad. Those are all very valid points. I think there needs to be a relook at how Test cricket is approached. That’s certainly valid," Uthappa stated.
"There are grievances about his style of coaching. What’s good is that a lot of what Gauti is doing works in white-ball cricket. But will that necessarily work in red-ball cricket? Not always. I definitely think you need specialists there. But one thing we are all missing is the fact that no one is really talking about the players and the ownership they should be taking. Everyone is going after the coach — his record and India’s record in the last year. A lot of valid points have been made about his style of coaching and the discrepancies that exist at this point in time," he concluded.
India's poor Test record at home under Gambhir
Under Gambhir's guidance, India have been quite successful in white-ball cricket, however Tests have been a completely different story. Not only is the team yet to record an overseas Test series victory under him, but they have also suffered two series series whitewashes at home.
India down to 5th on WTC points table
India currently stand fifth on the World Test Championship (WTC) standings behind the likes of Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. If their form doesn't improve in the coming assignments, then it will be very hard for them to make it to the WTC final that will take place in 2027.
ADVERTISEMENT
