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Gautam Gambhir is reportedly unhappy with the way a few Indian players have been performing on the tour and made his feelings known issuing a stern warning.
Gautam Gambhir (left) and Rohit Sharma have one Test left to retain BGT. (PTI Photo)
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly lost patience with the Indian team after their second innings batting collapse in the Melbourne Test culminated into a 184-run win for Australia. Gambhir has told the squad members that they have to follow his strategy and failing to do so could result in them being dropped from the team.
As per The Indian Express, the former India opener hasn’t explicitly targeted anyone in particular but pulled his players up for not reacting to the situation and sticking to their “natural game”.
With Gambhir’s alleged dressing room warning being leaked to the media, former India allrounder Irfan Pathan feels that it shouldn’t have been made public.
“What happens in the dressing room, should stay in the dressing room!” Pathan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
What happens in the dressing room, should stay in the dressing room!— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 1, 2025
According to the report, Gambhir said he’s allowed the team freedom to do what they want but he will now be deciding the strategy.
“I’ve had enough (Bahut ho gaya),” Gambhir allegedly said in the dressing room on Monday soon after India suffered their second defeat of the ongoing tour of Australia.
Gambhir is also said to have told selectors before the Australia tour that he wants out-of-favour Cheteshwar Pujara back in the squad, a request that was turned down by the Ajit Agarkar-led panel. Pujara, a veteran of 103 Tests, had played key roles in India’s back-to-back wins on their last two tours Down Under.
Additionally, a couple of Indian players had openly shown interest in Test captaincy by the time Rohit Sharma, who missed the series opener in Perth, had landed in Australia for the second Test.
Another senior player is indicated that he’s ready to be the interim option while expressing his belief that the younger players aren’t suited for the leadership roles yet.
