Former head coach Ravi Shastri has launched a scathing critique of the current Indian Test team's batting failures, squarely placing responsibility on head coach Gautam Gambhir and the batters themselves. This comes in the wake of India's disappointing 0-2 series defeat at home against South Africa, a result that has sparked intense debate about the team's direction.
Shastri's Blunt Assessment of Batting Collapses
The series defeat, capped by an abject surrender in the second Test in Guwahati, saw the Indian batting order crumble under pressure. Shastri specifically highlighted the dramatic collapse from 100 for 1 to 130 for 7 in the first innings as symptomatic of a larger problem. "This team is not that bad either. The team is not that bad; they have enough talent. Therefore, this is where the responsibility must also be taken by the players," Shastri stated in a podcast.
He questioned the batters' application against spin bowling on home soil, a traditional strength. "You have played spin since childhood," he reminded them, implying a lack of technical or mental fortitude in the crucial moments.
Gambhir's Responsibility and Shastri's Leadership Contrast
When asked if he was defending Gambhir, Shastri was unequivocal. "I'm not protecting [him]. 100 per cent (he is responsible too)," he asserted. Drawing from his own tenure, Shastri outlined a philosophy of top-down accountability: "Agar yeh mere saath hota, main pehla responsibility leta (Had this happened with me, I would have been the first one to take responsibility. But then, I wouldn't have spared the players either in the team meeting)."
This stance contrasts sharply with Gambhir's recent public comments. Following the series loss, when questioned about his future, Gambhir deferred to the BCCI, stating, "It is up to BCCI to decide... Indian cricket is important; I'm not." He also pointed to his past successes, including a Champions Trophy and Asia Cup win under his guidance, suggesting his record should be viewed holistically.
The scrutiny on Gambhir is heightened by his record since taking over last year. In five Test series, he has overseen only one home bilateral victory, which came against the West Indies in October.
A Legacy of Dominance vs Current Struggles
The criticism gains further context when compared to India's recent past in Test cricket. Under Ravi Shastri's coaching from 2017 to 2021, alongside then-captain Virat Kohli, the Indian team reached unprecedented heights.
Key achievements during Shastri's tenure include:
- A remarkable 65% success rate across all formats.
- Historic back-to-back Test series wins in Australia.
- Maintaining the No. 1 Test ranking for 42 months (2016-2021).
- Reaching the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.
This era of total home dominance, which stretched from 2012 to 2024, makes the recent collapse against South Africa particularly jarring for fans and analysts. The debate now centers on whether the current setup, led by Gambhir, can rediscover that winning mentality and address the clear technical and temperamental issues plaguing the top-order batters. The pressure is mounting for a swift turnaround as India looks to rebuild its reputation in the longest format of the game.
