Former India opener and chief selector Kris Srikkanth has launched a fresh attack on head coach Gautam Gambhir over the comments he made in the post-match press conference as the hosts lost by 408 runs to South Africa in Guwahati. Srikkanth blamed Gambhir for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from Tests before England tour. He went on to say that the world remembers all things he said while sitting in the commentary box.
"Kohli retired two days before the tour. Obviously, he and Rohit were told to retire and that Gill will be made captain. I had suggested also to make Virat captain, let him bring the stability back, then you move on. After that comments came like we don't miss players, I don't believe in heroism and all that. The whole world knows what all things he has spoken when he was a commentator," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel 'Cheeky Cheeka'.
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As India were whitewashed at home by Temba Bavuma-led side, Gambhir said that this is a young team going through transition process. But, Srikkanth expects Gambhir to admits his mistakes. He feels dropping Axar Patel was a wrong move and labelled the performances in the series as worst in Indian cricket history.
"You cannot defend. Just accept it that we have played bad cricket. One match you say there is no demons on the wicket and want more application. In that match Axar played well and you dropped him from the XI. He himself said Axar scored well so one day he says one thing and next day something else. This is the worst performance in Indian cricket," the former captain stated.
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Srikkanth feels credit and blame go hand in hand
While Gambhir said that he is the same head coach who won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 Asia Cup 2025, Srikkanth listed out the defeats in his tenure. The former opener says that credit will be given as long as he accepts issues with his tactics.
"He is saying he drew in England and all that. But he is not saying I am the same guy who lost against Sri Lanka, against New Zealand, I am the same guy who got whitewashed by South Africa. I am the same guy who got defeated in Australia. Accept the fact. When you do well, we will give credit. But when you don't, accept the fact. There are tactical problems," he said.
Srikkanth unhappy with IPL talent walking into Test team
Srikkanth criticised Gambhir for picking players in the Test team on the basis of performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and T20Is. He feels that the players are scared and clueless.
"You can lose matches, lose series, lose to South Africa at home. That is all fine. But don't give excuses. Find out what the solution is and what the reasons are. Everybody is scared in this team. Fastrack IPL players into T20 cricket. You cannot do that in Test cricket. The players themselves don't know what to do. We are lacking. Everybody got out defending because they did not know what to do," he added.
India’s Test team has a long break ahead of them. India’s next Test series is in Sri Lanka in August 2026. India have nine more Tests left including the tour of New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home.