Following India's series-clinching victory in the third ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, head coach Gautam Gambhir blasted Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal's recent comments.
Gautam Gambhir schools DC owner Parth Jindal
Jindal had publicly called for a separate coach for the Indian red-ball cricket team after the side's defeat to South Africa in Guwahati. While addressing the media in the post-match conference, Gambhir sternly instructed him to 'stay in his domain', pointedly making the demand without mentioning Jindal by name.
"God knows what all things were said (when we lost the Test series to South Africa and half of them were not even related to cricket," Gambhir said at the post-match press conference.
"Ek IPL ke owner ne bhi likkha split coaching k bare mein. Hum kisi ke domain mein nahi jate, so it's important that people stay in their domain," Gambhir added while taking an aim at DC owner.
Following yet another Test defeat for India at home, Parth Jindal had publicly vouched for the implementation of a split coaching policy in Indian cricket, believing it would yield better results in the red-ball format. His demands were vocal after India’s 408-run loss to South Africa in Guwahati, with Jindal writing on X (formerly Twitter), "Not even close, what a complete thrashing at home!”
“Don’t remember seeing our test side being so weak at home!!! This is what happens when red ball specialists are not picked. “This team is nowhere near reflective of the deep strength we possess in the red ball format. Time for India to move to a specialist red-ball coach for Test cricket,” Jindal had wrote on X.
Not a single word was spoken about our captain: Gambhir
Gambhir pointed out that the entire focus was placed on the nature of the pitch at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which resulted in a Test match concluding in just two and a half days. This was particularly highlighted when India were bowled out for 93 while chasing 124 for victory on Day 3. However, according to the head coach, the absence of captain Shubman Gill, who was unable to bat in both innings due to a freak neck injury that ruled him out of the series and the subsequent ODIs, was completely overlooked and not mentioned in the analysis.
"When we lost the first Test by 30 runs, a lot of things were said about pitch, conditions and whatnot, but not a single word was spoken about our captain not batting in two innings. He scored nearly 1000 runs this year and to miss a batter like him on a difficult wicket was always going to be tough," Gambhir further stated.