India’s Cricket Turmoil: Gambhir Says ‘Enough is Enough’
What once seemed like a smooth-sailing team for India has now turned into chaos following underwhelming performances in the Australia series after the New Zealand series. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was brought in with high expectations, is reportedly frustrated with the team’s current state.
According to Indian media, Gambhir expressed his frustration in the dressing room, saying, “Enough is enough.” However, this doesn’t mean he plans to step down. Instead, he is determined to increase his scrutiny of the players, particularly the batters.
As per The Indian Express, Gambhir didn’t name specific players in his dressing room address but criticized batters for playing reckless shots under the guise of their “natural game” instead of focusing on match situations. He warned that players failing to play according to the team’s needs could face being dropped.
Gambhir also pointed out India’s batting failures since the Bangladesh series and highlighted multiple instances of poor shot selection during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Reckless Shots and Costly Wickets
There have been several examples of careless dismissals by Indian batters. During the Melbourne Test, Virat Kohli chased a wide delivery before lunch on the final day and got out. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant had two questionable dismissals—once while attempting a lap shot in the first innings and then getting caught at long-on in the second innings off part-time spinner Travis Head.
In another instance, Pant attempted a big shot against Scott Boland and was dismissed, leading Sunil Gavaskar to angrily call him “stupid.” Ironically, team captain Rohit Sharma himself has been out of form, scoring just 31 runs in three Tests against Australia. Even young Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was batting well with 84 runs in the second innings of the Melbourne Test, played an unnecessary pull shot, gifting his wicket to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Dressing Room Turmoil
Reports suggest that the Indian dressing room is far from being a comfortable space. Tensions have been brewing since before the Australia series. Gambhir had reportedly requested Cheteshwar Pujara’s inclusion in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, but the selectors refused. Despite India’s victory in the Perth Test, Gambhir still emphasized the need for Pujara’s presence.
Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test due to personal reasons, joined the team during the Adelaide Test. His lack of form, combined with his delayed arrival, has only added to the team’s struggles. To make matters worse, some players have reportedly expressed a desire to take on leadership roles, adding to the growing instability. Rohit is said to be considering his Test career and may make a decision after this series.
Internal Leadership Struggles
One unnamed senior player has reportedly positioned himself as a potential interim captain, claiming that younger players are not yet ready to take on leadership responsibilities. However, The Indian Express refrained from revealing the player’s identity.
Ashwin’s Shocking Retirement
Adding to the chaos, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his sudden retirement after the second Test of the series. Ashwin’s father claimed he felt disrespected, which led to his decision. While Ashwin has remained silent, his abrupt departure has raised questions and concerns among fans and experts.
Must-Win Sydney Test
India is trailing 2–1 in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy and faces immense pressure ahead of the Sydney Test. Not only do they need a victory to restore some stability, but it’s also essential to keep their hopes alive for the World Test Championship final.
As Indian cricket navigates this turbulent phase, a win in Sydney might be the first step toward rebuilding morale and regaining their footing on the international stage.
