Former selector Sunil Joshi came out in Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s defence amid immense scrutiny over his role so far. India suffered a 0-3 clean-sweep against New Zealand in the recently concluded 3-match Test series. Gambhir’s coaching has received criticism as India suffered their very first 3-match Test series white-wash at home. However, Joshi felt that people shouldn’t question so quickly, within just five months into his tenure. Basit pointed out that Gambhir’s acumen and commitment shouldn’t be judged.
“Knowing Gautam Gambhir, he is a fighting cricketer and we know his commitment towards the game or towards the team. No coach will ever want to be on the wrong side of a result. We need to give him time. Let’s now judge by the two series we have seen, just five Test matches. Of course, on home soil, we have lost. I am sure he will also be disappointed with the way the Test matches have gone, but don’t judge his acumen or his commitment,” Sunil Joshi told TOI.
The former Indian sector was hopeful that Gambhir and his coaching staff would come out stronger once they settled in. He said that questions should be raised after two years in order to get better clarity.
“He is a fighter and he will come out successful. I know that. We have to give time to them (Gambhir and his coaching staff) to settle down. After two years, the results will be in front of us. Then we can judge,” he added.
Gambhir’s coaching tenure started off on a mixed note with a 0-2 ODI series loss against Sri Lanka, India’s very first against the island nation in last 27 years. The team enjoyed success in the shortest format of the game with the Suryakumar Yadav-led side clean-sweeping Sri Lanka and Bangladesh so far. After the high of India’s 2-0 whitewash against Bangladesh in Test series, the team hit a new low against the Kiwis.
Many experts and fans alike questioned the captaincy and leadership for the loss with Rohit Sharma and Gambhir coming under the scanner. Many of management’s decisions, like bowling changes, shuffling in the batting lineup, were questioned.
