Sunil Gavaskar, India batting legend, not only slammed the poor cricket played by the Indian team as they lost the BGT 2024 Test series 3-1, but he also took the coaching staff headed by Gautam Gambhir to task by asking him some tough questions after the SCG Test.
As India suffered a six-wicket defeat in Sydney on Sunday, the Australians not only recaptured the prized Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15 but also qualified for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's in June.
Sunil Gavaskar unleashed a scathing attack on the coaching staff of the Indian National Cricket Team. He questioned the Gautam Gambhir-led staff's efforts with the batsmen, pointing out that batting looked worse at home in Australia.
He stated that if fans question a player's position on the club, the same should be true for the coaching staff.
"What was your coaching staff doing? The bowling coach, the batting coach, saw against New Zealand when we had been bowled for 46, and the way we were defeated in the remaining matches, our batting was not strong enough. Here also our batting was not strong enough, so questions should be asked what have you guys done? Why can't we see any improvement? We understand here the bowling was top class and our batters couldn't face them, fine. Even the greatest batters have difficulty in facing good bowling,” Sunil Gavaskar said in a Star Sports video.
Indian coaching staff consists of head coach Gautam Gambhir, assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, T Dilip as the fielding coach, and Morne Morkel as the bowling coach.
"But when good bowling is not happening then tell me what has the coaching staff done? You may ask should we change the batting order, I will ask should we change the coaching staff? We have 2-3 months before going to England. I'm not talking about the Champions Trophy. I'm talking about the five-Test series ahead of us. I was a Test cricketer, I understand ODI cricket, but not like Test cricket. So I will also ask what have you (India coaching staff) done?
How do you plan to improve the Indian cricketers? Throw downs will not get you anything. You had to improve their technique and temperament, which you haven't done. So make sure that ask questions from the batters who have not made runs, but also ask the coaching staff what have they done?,” he concluded.
India’s next assignment will be the white-ball series at home against England consisting of five T20Is and 3 ODI matches, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.
