After winning the Test series in their last two outings in Australia, India suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the hosts in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia have been clinical in this series and made sure to end the series on a high in Sydney.
After the loss, India coach Gautam Gambhir spoke about the moments when India lost this series. Gambhir also refused to blame any department for the loss as he believes India needs to be better in both to be a successful team.
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Watch: Gautam Gambhir gives an amazing response to the reporter
During the post-Sydney Test press conference, Gautam Gambhir spoke about the moments when India had their chances to go ahead in the series. Gambhir also gave a startling response to a reporter when asked about the mistakes made by India.
The reporter asked, “Gautam, what mistakes did we make because of which we are seeing the score 3-1? Because until you do not accept the mistakes that were made, you cannot improve.”
In response to this Gautam Gambhir said, “Pehli baat toh ye, yahaan par jo insaan baitha hai woh galtiya sabse pehle kubool karega. Toh aap uske liye befikar rahiye ki yahaan pe galtiya kubool nahi ki jayengi.”
(“First, the person sitting here will be the first to accept that mistakes happen, so you don't have to worry that we won't admit it.”)
The India coach believes Australia would have been under much more pressure if the Melbourne Test had ended in a draw.
“We had our moments in this series where we could have won…the way we started this series, the pink-ball Test match, and then we tied one game (at the Gabba),” Gautam Gambhir said.
“If you saw that last session in Melbourne (Day 5), Australia would have been under a lot more pressure with the series tied at 1-1,” he added.
The fourth Test in Melbourne was heading towards a draw. However, India suffered a shocking collapse in the final session of day five to lose the match. The Men in Blue lost seven wickets in the final session with Australia leading 2-1 at that stage.
Where did India lose the Sydney Test?
Gautam Gambhir also regretted the opportunity to win the Sydney Test. He feels things would have been a little different if the Indian batsmen had put a good score on the board in the second innings.
“There were moments in this match as well. We were ahead even after we had made all 180 in the first innings. If we had batted well in the second innings and made a target of around 250-275, things could have worked out.” It was different “, noted Gambhir.
“I will not blame any department (batting or bowling). Overall, if we want to play well, we have to perform better in all departments,” the former India opener said.
India fights back but Australia cruises to victory
India were bowled out for just 185 in the first innings of the Sydney Test but their bowlers came back strongly to dismiss Australia for just 181. India needed to step up their batsmen at this moment as they did in the first Test in Perth.
But the batting line-up flopped and the team could not handle the power of the Australian bowlers on the hot pitch. Apart from Rishabh Pant, no other batsman was able to make his mark when the team needed them.
Pant scored a blistering 61 off just 33 balls and looked like the only Indian batsman in charge. Virat Kohli's poor form continued and it ended a very disappointing series for him. India scored just 157 runs in the second innings leaving Australia with only 162 to win.
It wasn't a big goal and the hosts knew they would control the ball with one good partnership. The unavailability of Jasurit Bumrah did not help India's cause either. Australia chased down the target with six wickets in hand and regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.