Sunil Gavaskar criticizes Indian coaching staff as Rohit Sharma’s team fails to reach WTC final
Sunil Gavaskarformer Indian cricket captain, criticized the coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir after India’s disappointing 3-1 loss to Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The series concluded with a six-run defeat at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 5 January, marking a significant setback for Rohit Sharma’s Team India, who not only lost the trophy but also failed to secure a place in the World Test Championship final.
Sunil Gavaskar slammed the Indian coaching staff
In an impassioned address during a live telecast on Star Sports, Gavaskar questioned the effectiveness of the coaching team, which includes the batting coach Abhishek Nayar and a bowling coach Morne Morkel. He expressed his frustration by asking, “What did your professional staff do?” and highlighted the ongoing problems facing the Indian batsmen, especially Kohli’s repeated dismissals outside the team. Gavaskar pointed out that despite opportunities for improvement, the team’s performance did not reflect any improvement.
Gavaskar’s remarks were particularly pointed about the team’s batting failures, citing India’s historic collapse for just 46 runs against New Zealand earlier in the series. He stated, “Our batting wasn’t strong enough… Why aren’t we seeing any improvement?” This criticism comes after Gambhir took over as head coach following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, where he brought in his former IPL associates in the coaching staff.
“Should we change the coaching staff?”: Gavaskar
The legendary cricketer emphasized that while good bowling can challenge even the best batsmen, there have been instances where Indian players have thrown their wickets against less powerful batsmen. He suggested that it may be time to rethink not only the players’ strategies but also the coaching staff itself ahead of India’s upcoming tour of England.
With just a few months before this crucial series, Gavaskar called for immediate action and improvement in technique and temperament among the players. He noticed, “You can ask if we should change the batting order; I will ask if we should change the coaching staff?”
#SunilGavaskar shares his honest thoughts on how the Indian coaching staff may have failed during the course #BorderGavaskarTrophy. 🇮🇳⚡#AUSvINDonStar #Toughest rivalry #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pHwnD3UyWR
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 5, 2025
Gavaskar’s criticism reflects deep concerns about India’s current trajectory in Test cricket. As the team prepares for the challenges ahead, including a significant tour of England, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and whether there will be changes within the coaching structure.
