Sunil GavaskarThe former Indian cricket captain criticized the coaching staff he led Gautam Gambhir After India's disappointing 3-1 defeat to Australia in the 2024-25 Gavaskar Trophy. The series concluded with a six-wicket loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 5 January, representing a major setback for the Rohit Sharma-led Team India, who not only lost the trophy but also failed to secure a place in the World Test Championship final.
Sunil Gavaskar harshly criticizes the Indian coaching staff
In an emotional speech during a live broadcast on Star Sports, Gavaskar questioned the effectiveness of the coaching team that includes the batting coach. Abhishek Nayar And bowling coach Morne Morkel. He expressed his frustration by asking: “What was your coaching staff doing?” He highlighted the recurring problems faced by Indian batsmen, particularly Kohli's frequent dismissals outside the off-stump. Gavaskar pointed out that although there were opportunities for improvement, the team's performance did not reflect any progress.
Gavaskar's comments were particularly noted regarding the team's batting failures, referring to India's historic collapse for just 46 runs against New Zealand earlier in the series. He mentioned, “Our strikes were not strong enough… Why are we not seeing any improvement?” The criticism comes after Gambhir took over as head coach after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, bringing in his former IPL teammates as part of the coaching staff.
“Should we change the coaching staff?”: Gavaskar
The legendary cricketer emphasized that while good bowling can challenge even the best batsmen, there were instances where Indian players seemed to throw their wickets away against less powerful bowling attacks. He pointed out that it might be time to reconsider not only the players' strategies but also the coaching staff itself before India's upcoming tour of England.
Just a few months before this crucial series, Gavaskar urged immediate action and improved style and mood among the players. He pointed out, “You might ask should we change the batting order; I would ask should we change the coaching staff?
#SunilGavaskar He shares his candid thoughts on how India's coaching staff may have failed over a period #BorderGavaskarTrophy. 🇮🇳⚡#AUSvINDonStar #The toughest competition #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/pHwnD3UyWR
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 5, 2025
Gavaskar's criticism reflects deep concerns about India's current trajectory in Test cricket. As the team prepares for future challenges, including an important tour of England, it remains to be seen how they will deal with these issues and whether changes will be made within the coaching structure.