Ashwin condemned personal attacks on Gambhir after Test series loss to South Africa.
Gautam Gambhir has faced widespread criticism after India's second home Test series defeat in 13 months. On Wednesday, November 26, India suffered a 408-run defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, their largest Test loss by margin of runs, resulting in a 0-2 series defeat.
This was India's third Test series win at home, with two coming under Gambhir's term as head coach. Following the Guwahati loss, calls for Gambhir's dismissal have become louder.
In support of Gambhir, former India spinner R Ashwin said that although team management is in charge of making decisions, players must also take responsibility on the field and stand up when necessary to help India get out of sticky circumstances.
“We want to ask for responsibility. It’s easy, because in Indian cricket, you know it and I know it—there’s a lot to gain and a lot of money involved. So many people are ready to take the job, and there will always be people putting their hat in the ring. But the fact is, a coach cannot pick up the bat and go out to play. He can only do his job, talk to the players—that’s all,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, ‘Ash Ki Baat.’
“What can a coach do? I’m asking you a simple question. Put yourself in the coach’s position. You may say a player needs continuity and that there has been a lot of rotation—fine, agreed. But the skill to play and perform is the player’s responsibility. As a player, you must control what is in your control. Decision-making lies with the coach and captain—leave that aside,” Ashwin said.
“I haven’t seen enough responsibility taken by enough players to say the coach is the problem. It’s a valid point. In Tamil, we say, "If you have flour, you can make chapatis or rotis." If you don’t have flour, how will you make rotis? I didn’t see enough from the players’ side to blame decision-making alone. Sure, decision-making can always be better—no doubt. But I personally don’t like this individual attack, because we always look for someone to blame,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin called time on his India career during the Boxing Day Test at MCG against Australia. While he understands the criticism of Gambhir, he condemned the personal attacks on the Indian head coach.
“Why are we doing this? It’s a sport. Managing a team cannot be that easy. And yes, he is hurting too. We must understand that. It might feel nice to get someone sacked, but that’s not how it should be. I’ve never been that kind of person. It’s not about supporting anyone—Gautam is not my relative. I could also point out 10 mistakes. Yes, mistakes happen, but anybody can make them. It’s just that when they cost you, they become very expensive,” Ashwin added.
During Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s Test coach, the team has suffered from inconsistency. India has played 19 Tests under him, winning seven, losing ten, and drawing two—a win rate of just under 37 percent.
The two series wins under Gambhir have been 2-0 whitewashes of Bangladesh last year and the West Indies recently.