Sarfaraz didn’t feature in a single Test during the five-match series against Australia.
By the end of the series, there were reports of tensions in the camp as dressing room conversations also got leaked in the media.
Now, a report suggests that Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has blamed young batter Sarfaraz Khan for leaking the dressing room information. Sarfaraz didn’t feature in a single Test during the five-match series.
According to News24 Sports, Gambhir made the accusation in the BCCI’s review meeting of the Australia tour in Mumbai on Saturday (January 11).
The chief coach said Sarfaraz leaked the bit about his angry speech in the dressing room after India’s defeat in the Boxing Day Test at MCG.
The report also claimed that Gambhir’s anger might also hamper the player’s career till he’s in charge.
Addressing the media ahead of the Sydney Test, Gambhir had highlighted the significance of honesty while commenting on the dressing room leaks.
“Debates between coach and player should remain in the dressing room. Stern words. They were just reports, not truth," Gambhir said.
“Indian cricket will be in safe hands till honest people stay in the dressing room. The only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance. There were honest words and honesty is important. There is only one tendency and there is only one discussion – it’s the team’s first ideology that matters. You need to play what the team needs. You can still play your natural game in a team sport – but if the team needs you – you need to play in a certain way," he added.
After the Melbourne Test, The Indian Express had reported that Gambhir reprimanded the team saying, ‘Bahut ho gaya’ (Enough is enough), apparently frustrated with the batters for not playing according to the situation and instead playing their ‘natural game’. That report had also claimed that the dressing room environment was far from ideal.
Subsequently, a series of dressing room leaks came to the fore, including a senior player projecting himself as “Mr Fix-it”.
Gautam Gambhir is under scrutiny for India’s performances in the last six months, which includes a humiliating 0-3 whitewash in a Test series against New Zealand at home.
Gambhir's next assignment begins later this month when India face England in five T20Is and three ODIs at home. The white-ball series against England will be followed by the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan and UAE from February 19 to March 9.