India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir is under the pump and scanner after India’s stunning 2-0 whitewash at the hands of South Africa in Guwahati. Gautam Gambhir is under serious scrutiny after South Africa thrashed India in the second Test match by 408 runs and dominated the home team in the series from start to finish. This is the second time that India have been blanked in a Test series under Gambhir, after last year’s humiliating defeat against New Zealand at home.
The latest setback has triggered sharp criticism from several former cricketers. One among them is Mr. 360 AB de Villiers who was very dramatic and thought provoking in his assessment. He was addressing leadership styles and how his emotional nature could be a drawback and bane to the Indian team and that could be one of the reasons as well.
AB de Villiers opines on Gautam Gambhir’s emotional angle.Â
Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin’s You Tube channel, De Villiers offered a candid and larger view of Gambhir- one that balanced both concern and perspective. Drawing from his experience of playing against Gambhir for years, the South African great suggested that emotions may be at the heart of India’s current coaching debate.
AB de Villiers said: “I don’t know what GG is like when it comes to leadership. I’ve known him as an emotional player, and if that is the case in the change room, generally an emotional coach is not a good thing to have.”
This remark instantly struck a chord in the cricketing world, fuelling questions about whether Gambhir’s intensity which was once his greatest strength is working against him in a dressing room that appears increasingly unsettled.
AB de Villiers opines on a fixed formula for successful coach.Â
AB de Villiers didn’t stop at criticism. He made it equally clear that there is no fixed formula for a successful coach.
AB de Villiers mentioned: “It’s not to say that he’s that kind of a coach behind the scenes. There’s no right and wrong. Some players feel comfortable with a former player, some with someone who’s never played but has years of coaching experience.”
He further admitted that he had never worked directly with Gambhir, Morne Morkel or Ryan ten Doeschate inside the Indian set-up, making it difficult to fully judged the internal dynamics. But he contrasted the situation sharply with his admiration for South Africa’s current head coach, Shukri Conrad, crediting him for restoring calm and clarity.
AB de Villiers added: “I absolutely loved playing under Gary Kirsten; he’s a former player and similar to Gautam Gambhir. Some players find confidence with a former great being there- someone who inspires you to put in extra yards.”
As Team India reels from another home debacle and whitewash, De Villiers’ comments have added a dramatic edge to a debate that is unlikely to fade soon.
Gautam Gambhir may have all the credentials for white-ball cricket, but his Test record is a lot to be desired. Whether this is due to his emotional behaviour, nobody knows. But the fact of the matter is his Test record is poor with 10 losses in 19 games. There are 2 draws in it and 7 wins and out of the 7 wins, 2 have come in England earlier this year. One in Perth against Australia last year and then 4 wins at home against lower-ranked sides Bangladesh and West Indies.
It is shameful as India suffered two whitewashes in 12 months and have lost 5 out of last 7 home Test matches under his tenure. Yes, players are to be blamed, but the coach cannot shirk away from responsibility and act weirdly in the press showing arrogance. India will be playing white-ball cricket now and everything of red ball will be forgotten as Gautam will do the cover up act and cling onto his job through T20Is.
Let’s see how India under Gautam Gambhir next fare against South Africa in the 3-match ODI series starting Sunday November 30th in Ranchi in the afternoon hours from 1:30 PM IST onwards.
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