With India head coach Gautam Gambhir coming under scathing criticism after the team’s 0-2 whitwash at the hands of South Africa, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar came out in his defence. Gavaskar said that a coach can only prepare a team and it is the players’ responsibility to perform on the field.
“He’s a coach. The coach can prepare a team. The coach can tell, you know, a guy with his experience. But it’s out there in the middle that the players have to deliver,” Gavaskar told ‘India Today’ as per PTI.
“Now, to those who are asking, you know, for him to be held accountable, my question, counter-question is: what did you do when India won the Champions Trophy under him? What did you do when India won the Asia Cup under him? “Did you say then – you’re asking for a sacking now – did you say then that he should be given an extended contract, a contract for life for one-day cricket and for T20 cricket?” he added.
The 76-year-old also said that there was nothing wrong in Gambhir being an all-format coach citing the example of England coach Brendon McCullum.
“You have coaches, for example, Brendon McCullum is a coach for all three formats for England. A lot of countries have a coach who is there for all formats. But we tend to only look and point a finger at somebody when the team has lost. You’re not prepared to give him credit. If you’re not prepared to give him credit for the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup win, then please tell me why you want to blame him for the team out there on that 22-yard, not doing well. Why are you blaming him?” he said.
Gambhir has come in for criticism following the massive 408-run loss to South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati, which helped the visitors sweep the two-match series.
This was India’s third Test series defeat under Gambhir. In the 16 months he has been at the helm, India have lost to New Zealand at home 0-3, away to Australia 1-3, and now finally to the Proteas.
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