Indian men’s cricket team head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has found himself part of two humiliating series losses. First against Sri Lanka, and then a recent whitewash in a 3-match test series against New Zealand at home. Between these challenges, an old video has resurfaced, where Gambhir is seen questioning former coach Ravi Shastri’s credentials as a player after Shastri had referred to India as the best overseas team.
Ravi Shastri, who coached India from 2017 to 2021, led the team to victories in two consecutive Border-Gavaskar Trophies against Australia. Under his guidance, India remained the no.1 Test team globally, and Shastri often boasted about the team’s success overseas.
Gambhir’s sharp critique of Shastri’s claims
However, Gautam Gambhir sharply criticised Shastri’s assertions. Gambhir argued that Shastri’s claims were inflated, pointing out that India’s overseas record during that period did not support such statements. In a past interview with News18, Gambhir said, “I can only laugh because I’m sure either Ravi Shastri doesn’t know the records or hasn’t watched the series in the past. When you haven’t won anything, you do feel that the team you coach is the best. That’s because you haven’t won anything at all. What he won was the ODI World Series. There was nothing else that he had won. I don’t remember if he has won anything outside India ever.”
Gambhir questions Shastri’s playing credentials
Gambhir also took a dig at Shastri’s playing career, suggesting that he hadn’t won anything significant. According to Gambhir, when someone with limited success as a player coaches a team, they tend to overestimate their own setup. He urged Shastri to revisit the records, which, according to Gambhir, didn’t match his claims.
Gambhir faces scrutiny after series losses
Years later, Gautam Gambhir finds himself under pressure, as India’s legacy at home has been tarnished. The upcoming Australia series is expected to be a critical test, with the BCCI increasing its scrutiny over the team’s performance.
Differences between Gambhir and Rohit Sharma
A recent Hindustan Times report claims that Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are at odds over strategies and pitch curation. The two have reportedly failed to reach consensus on multiple issues, which contributed to India’s whitewash by New Zealand at home. Their disagreements extend beyond strategy, with a particular clash over the curation of pitches.
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