Unprecedented collection defeats towards Sri Lanka and New Zealand have positioned Gautam Gambhir underneath immense strain barely three months into his appointment as the top coach of the Indian group. He was appointed to the highest put up amid a lot fanfare and was additionally given a uncommon seat on the choice committee assembly for the tour of Australia. However, his preliminary report card clearly suggests issues aren’t trying good for the previous India opener. Unless there’s a exceptional turnaround Down Under, Gambhir, who was given a free hand in choice issues, might not have as a lot say in points regarding the group within the coming occasions.
Right after Gambhir took over the reins, India misplaced an ODI collection to Sri Lanka for the primary time in 27 years, after which New Zealand accomplished a 3-0 whitewash of his aspect in Tests at dwelling on Sunday, one thing the group by no means skilled in its lengthy cricketing journey.
While the coach can do solely as a lot, questions are actually being raised concerning the lack of prudence on show by going for a rank turner in Mumbai regardless of realizing that the top-order has repeatedly failed in final six to seven years towards high quality spin bowling on wickets providing respectable flip.
Even Gambhir’s philosophy of taking part in the identical approach, come hell or excessive water, is one thing that these related intently with Indian cricket have didn’t fathom.
Agreeing to ship pacer Mohammed Siraj as night-watchman on the second night of the third Test towards New Zealand in Mumbai and Sarfaraz Khan at No.8 within the first innings are among the tactical strikes which can be being questioned by everybody.
“Gautam Gambhir was given entry which his predecessors Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid did not have. The BCCI’s rule ebook does not enable coaches to be part of the choice committee conferences, however for Australia tour choice assembly, an exception was made.
“The head coach was allowed to attend contemplating the magnitude of the tour,” a senior BCCI supply instructed PTI on the situation of anonymity.
At least two gamers — Delhi and KKR speedster Harshit Rana and Andhra and SRH all-rounder Nitish Reddy — are within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) squad on the insistence of the top coach.
However, Rana wasn’t given any white-ball sport in both Sri Lanka or through the dwelling collection towards Bangladesh. It was reported that he was launched earlier than the final match as he was unwell however inside per week, he was again bowling within the India nets in Bengaluru. And then, he had Ranji Trophy outing towards Assam.
There was a faculty of thought that believed Rana, somewhat than that includes in Ranji Trophy, may have been despatched to Australia with the India A group as taking part in one or two first-class video games on bouncy tracks there would have allowed him to hit the best size earlier than the Test collection.
Instead, he was became a web bowler for the just-concluded Test collection during which two of the three tracks have been rank turners.
Coming to Reddy, he received right into a tangle whereas dealing with a brief ball within the ‘A’ sport and his bowling, which is definitely not adequate to be among the many important 5 bowlers, has additionally raised considerations.
Impressed with Reddy’s T20 abilities, Gambhir was satisfied that he will be the perfect substitute of Hardik Pandya because the seam bowling all-rounder.
The Australia collection shall be an acid take a look at for Gambhir as he may need to additionally turn into the harbinger of doom for some senior gamers and present them the mirror because the board watches his strikes from the sidelines.
The whitewash has additionally put the maverick Delhi man underneath the lens.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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