Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed his disappointment with the squad after the 184-run defeat by Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The defeat gave Australia a 2-1 lead Lead In the ongoing Border-Gaskar Trophy, India’s hopes of retaining the series have been put in jeopardy.
According to reports in The Indian Express, Gambhir lost his temper in the dressing room, reportedly saying, “Bah ho gaya (I’ve had enough)” in response to what he called a lack of discipline and Perceived as failure to follow team strategy. .
Gambhir, who had earlier led India to commendable victories against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, expressed disappointment that the players were not following the plans set for the series. His disappointment stemmed from several key dismissals during the Melbourne Test, including Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.
Pant’s dismissal was seen as a particularly significant moment. After stabilizing the innings with Yashvi Jaiswal, Pant attempted a quick shot to part-time bowler Travis Head. Mitchell Marsh’s resulting catch spelled disaster, leaving India bowled out for 155.
Meanwhile, Kohli’s ongoing struggles with balls outside the off-stump continued in the match, contributing to another soft dismissal. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who looked solid at the crease, fell to an ambitious shot, failing to convert his start into a big score.
As tensions reached boiling point in the dressing room, Gambhir is said to have informed the players that he would not tolerate any more deviations from the game plan. According to Indian media, Gambhir had given the squad six months to adapt to his style, but now he was ready to take drastic action. He warned that players who did not want to follow his strategy would be dropped from the squad, sending a strong message to those who have underperformed.
India’s batting slump has been a constant problem throughout the series, with the team struggling to recover from several mid-innings lapses. Gambhir’s frustration has been exacerbated by India’s disappointing 0-3 defeat against New Zealand earlier this year. The Melbourne Test highlighted the team’s inability to hold on to good positions, with India once again squandering a promising opportunity.
The final Test of the series, scheduled to begin on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, is a must-win for India if they are to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC). With India’s WTC hopes now hanging by a thread, Gambhir’s side are under intense pressure to perform.