Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels it is unfair to blame head coach Gautam Gambhir after India’s series loss against New Zealand. India lost the opening Test match against the Kiwis by eight wickets and the second game by 113 runs.
India could not bring their best with the bat and it led to their downfall in two Test matches. Meanwhile, Gambhir’s coaching stint hasn’t started off on a high as India also suffered a 2-0 ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, the series loss against New Zealand is India’s first at home since 2012. India could not deliver as a unit with both bat and ball and they were completely outplayed by the Kiwis.
“This is a meme, so if something is not fact-checked, you can do that. We lost a bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka after 27 years. India lost a Test at home against New Zealand after 36 years and a Test match in Chinnaswamy after 19 years,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“India lost two home Tests in a year after 12 years and scored less than 50 runs in an innings at home for the first time. It is not good. Gautam Gambhir has just started his tenure and all these infamous things have happened. You will look towards him and say that it’s his fault. I would say it’s not. Don’t blame Gautam Gambhir,” Chopra added.
The renowned commentator that Gambhir has taken over a team that is going through a transition.
“When a handover happens, it’s like a relay race. The same team is almost carried forward and if the performance is not good, it’s mostly not the new coach’s fault so much because he has taken over a team that, if we talk about this team, was already in transition. It’s not in transition in ODI cricket but the transition has started in Test cricket,” he said.
“The transition has started in T20Is as well and they are still playing well in T20Is, whether it was the Sri Lanka series or the Bangladesh series recently. We played only three ODIs under Gautam Gambhir’s leadership and lost all three, which was sad. The Test series loss is shaking you a little. I personally feel it’s a little too early. Nothing should be said at this point in time,” he observed.
The third and final Test match between India and New Zealand will be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai from November 1 onwards.
