Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey
2024 has been an interesting year for India. The T20 World Cup triumph ended an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy following many near misses in this period. However, they have been underwhelming since.
Gautam Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as coach, with the first assignment a limited overs tour of Sri Lanka. They somehow managed to avoid defeat in the third T20I of that series, which they won 3-0. They were then soundly beaten 2-0 in the ODIs, where the home spinners were too strong. It was Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win over India since 1997.
Fast forward to the Tests. India had five matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home, with the general consensus they would win all five and strengthen their hold of top spot in the World Test Championship (WTC). After all, the Indians have a great record across formats against Bangladesh and hadn’t lost to New Zealand in a single Test at home since 1988.
The 2-0 series win over Bangladesh was expected. The over-the-top praise for captain Rohit Sharma came as a surprise. His legacy was touted as greater than those captains before him with bigger tests still on the horizon.
Those tests were talked about as away tours of Australia and England. But, it was New Zealand where they came terribly unstuck. Not only did India lose their first series at home in 19 attempts since 2012, but they were swept 3-0. From a poor decision at the toss in Bengaluru to questionable batting and tactics at Pune and Mumbai, fans have started to turn on Rohit and Gambhir.
The style of cricket has come under fire. There is a lack of resolve within the batting unit, with seniors Rohit and Virat Kohli struggling badly. India’s approach against spin is far cry from the great players over the years, although the surfaces are much more conducive to turn. But, that too is a criticism of the management, with such pitches bringing opposition spinners with either inexperience or middling records right into the game in recent years. Cases in point? Matt Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy, Tom Hartley, and Mitch Santner, among others.
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India fans turn on captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir following 3-0 series defeat
Back in August, Joginder Sharma, who famously took the final wicket to seal India’s win in the 2007 T20 World Cup, said Gambhir won’t last the length of his contract, which ends in 2027.
“Gautam Gambhir is the one to manage the team, but I believe that Gautam Gambhir will not be able to stay for a long time. This is because Gautam Gambhir has his own decisions,” Joginder said in Subhankar Mishra’s podcast.
“It might happen that he has a disagreement with a player. I am not talking about Virat Kohli. Many times, Gautam Gambhir’s decisions are such that others do not like them.”
Fans are now starting to hold similar beliefs. “This is what happens when you fast track an IPL coach to coach a test team,” wrote one fan on X. “I had my doubts about him. Should have been appointed only as a white ball coach for a couple of seasons before moving him into test team. Is anyone asking for accountability from him?”
Captain Rohit is also facing criticism. India have lost five of 16 home Tests under his leadership. For context, India lost just two of 31 home Tests under previous captain Virat Kohli.
One month after ESPNcricinfo published an article claiming “Rohit might just be outdoing them [Kohli, Kumble, Ganguly, Dev, Dravid, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi] all because he is cutting right into one of the core values of Indian cricket”, India’s Business Standard have asked the question “Is Rohit Sharma the worst Test captain India have ever had?”
It is quite the turnaround.
India will have to pick themselves up quickly for the Border Gavaskar Trophy which kicks off in Perth on November 22. Rohit Sharma may not be available for that match for personal reasons, but expecting India will back him as captain, he and Gambhir have to inspire a huge turnaround.
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