AB de Villiers, former South Africa cricketer, has commented on the rumors that not everything is good in the Indian team dressing room, amidst their 1-3 series loss to Australia in recent BGT 2024. India lost the fifth and final Test in Sydney by 6 wickets on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
With this, India lost the Test series against Australia after a 10-year hiatus, as Pat Cummins and his teammates finally claimed the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Soon after the result, veteran South Africa batsman AB de Villiers commented on the apparent schism within the Indian dressing room.
Ahead of the Sydney Test between India and Australia, an Indian Express story alleged that a veteran member of the visiting team is pitching himself as 'Mr. Fix-It' and attempting to become captain because he does not believe young players are capable of leading the team ahead.
Rohit Sharma withdrew from the Sydney Test due to poor form, and Jasprit Bumrah took over as captain. However, Bumrah developed back spasms on Day 2 and was unable to bowl in support of India's 161-run defense. That's when Virat Kohli took over the leadership and helped India navigate tough waters.
"I know there have been some rumors. I’m not surprised. When there’s smoke, there’s fire. I’ve been part of dressing rooms where it’s been hostile. Especially when you’re away from home, you’re missing your family, and you’re not playing the best cricket of your career,” De Villiers said in a video on his X account.
AB de Villiers also mentioned how crucial it is to have a united dressing room to maintain the mood positive and pleasant. He also discussed his personal experiences with the South African team.
"The dressing room is crucial, especially away from home. It’s easier at home. I have no doubt that the Indian team dressing room might have lost that a little bit over the last weeks in Australia. When you start losing faith in each other, you might as well sit on the sides and hand over the trophy. I don’t have facts with regards to the Indian dressing room. I’ll wait for facts to see who’s been niggling with who," he added.
The batting performance was disappointing, with Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma failing to get going. Despite reaching a century in Perth, Virat Kohli failed to reach 200 runs in the five-match series against Australia.
“It’s very easy for bad stuff and bad habits to creep into the dressing room. We also had that against Australia in 2006 when we lost 2-0 in Australia and then lost 3-0 in South Africa. We lost five out of six Tests. It wasn’t sunshine and roses in that dressing room, we were squabbling with each other,” said de Villiers.
“It’s everything, in my opinion. That’s the kind of stuff I believed in when I captained teams. For me, it was a non-negotiable. The dressing room needed to be truthful, guys were loyal to each other, there was great atmosphere and spirit, and we always respected the guy next to you. If you have that, even if you’re losing, you still have a good dressing room," he added.
India’s next assignment will be against England at home when the two sides face off in 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs.
(Hindustan Times inputs)
