Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian cricket captain, has criticized the coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir following India’s disappointing 3-1 series defeat to Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series concluded with a six-wicket loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, marking a significant setback for the Rohit Sharma’s Team India, which not only lost the trophy but also failed to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final.
Sunil Gavaskar takes a harsh dig at the Indian coaching staff
In a passionate address during a live broadcast on Star Sports, Gavaskar questioned the effectiveness of the coaching team, which includes batting coach Abhishek Nayar and bowling coach Morne Morkel. He expressed his frustration by asking, “What was your coaching staff doing?” and highlighted the recurring issues faced by Indian batters, particularly Virat Kohli’s repeated dismissals outside off-stump. Gavaskar pointed out that despite having opportunities to improve, the team’s performance did not reflect any progress.
Gavaskar’s remarks were particularly pointed regarding the team’s batting failures, referencing India’s historic collapse for just 46 runs against New Zealand earlier in the series. He stated, “Our batting was not strong enough… Why can’t we see any improvement?” This criticism comes after Gambhir took over as head coach following India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he brought in his former IPL associates as part of the coaching staff.
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“Should we change the coaching staff?”: Gavaskar
The legendary cricketer emphasized that while good bowling can challenge even the best batters, there were instances where Indian players appeared to throw their wickets away against less formidable bowling attacks. He suggested that it may be time to reconsider not just player strategies but also the coaching staff itself ahead of India’s upcoming tour to England.
With only a few months before this crucial series, Gavaskar urged for immediate action and improvement in both technique and temperament among players. He remarked, “You may ask should we change the batting order; I will ask should we change the coaching staff?”
#SunilGavaskar shares his candid thoughts on how India’s coaching staff may have fallen short during the #BorderGavaskarTrophy. 🇮🇳⚡#AUSvINDonStar #ToughestRivalry #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pHwnD3UyWR
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 5, 2025
Gavaskar’s critique reflects deep concerns about India’s current trajectory in Test cricket. As the team prepares for future challenges, including a significant tour of England, it remains to be seen how they will address these issues and whether changes will be made within the coaching structure.
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