Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane has offered a straightforward critique of the national cricket team's recent struggles in One Day Internationals. Rahane spoke out following India's 1-2 ODI series defeat to New Zealand at home, pointing directly at what he sees as fundamental issues under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Rahane Calls for Clarity and Stability
Rahane emphasized the need for clear communication and defined roles within the squad. He believes India's inconsistent performances stem from excessive changes to the lineup and a lack of security for players. "You are looking at the World Cup, where players actually need that security, that clarity from management," Rahane stated during an appearance on Cricbuzz.
The former Test vice-captain noted that India has lost five of their last nine ODI matches. "And that's the reason: too many changes," he explained bluntly. Rahane stressed that when management commits to certain players in a format, they must provide unambiguous support and clear expectations.
Recent Results Raise Concerns
Under Gambhir's leadership, India has now suffered ODI series defeats against multiple opponents:
- Sri Lanka
- Australia
- New Zealand
These consecutive setbacks have sparked questions about the team's direction and continuity. India started the recent New Zealand series positively with an opening victory under stand-in captain Shubman Gill, but dropped the next two matches despite strong individual performances from players like Virat Kohli.
Weight of Expectations in Home Conditions
Rahane highlighted the particular pressure of playing at home against what many considered a second-string New Zealand side. "Especially in India, playing against New Zealand, which was probably the New Zealand A or B team, due respect to all the players," he acknowledged.
"But expectations were there that we all thought India would win easily, probably 3-0," Rahane added, while giving credit to New Zealand's execution throughout the series.
Looking Ahead to 2027 World Cup
With the 2027 ODI World Cup as the long-term target, Rahane believes the current scheduling break could benefit India. The team doesn't play another ODI until their tour of England in July 2026, providing what Rahane sees as valuable planning time.
"They just need to follow the process," Rahane advised. "Just see which are the players you are going to back. You have time. After T20, there's nothing at all."
He concluded with a clear prescription for improvement: "It's always about finding your right thing, right players, right combination, and just back them." Rahane's comments reflect growing concern among cricket observers about India's ODI strategy as they build toward the next World Cup cycle.
