Gautam Gambhir has strongly criticized Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal for his comments regarding the Indian cricket team's coaching setup, telling him to "stay in your domain". The remarks came after Jindal publicly called for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to appoint a specialist red-ball coach following India's recent Test series defeat to South Africa.
India suffered a 2-0 series whitewash against South Africa, leading to criticism of Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach. Jindal expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that he hadn't seen an Indian team "so weak at home" and suggesting it was time for a specialist red-ball coach. He lamented the fact that red-ball specialists were not being picked.
Gambhir, evidently unhappy with Jindal's public criticism, responded assertively, reminding everyone of his past achievements. " Ek IPL team ke owner… Stay in your domain," Gambhir stated, implying that Jindal should stick to managing his IPL franchise and refrain from commenting on matters concerning the Indian national team. Gambhir pointed out that he is the same coach who achieved results in England with a young team and won the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. He also addressed the recent losses, stating that the team needs to keep learning and is doing everything possible to turn the tide.
The controversy arose after India's 408-run defeat in the second Test against South Africa. Jindal's initial criticism focused on India's team selection and batting performances, suggesting that the BCCI should consider separate coaching staff for red-ball and white-ball cricket. He highlighted the growing trend of young players prioritizing white-ball formats and the need to nurture red-ball talent.
Gambhir's coaching strategies have faced scrutiny, with critics pointing to inconsistent batting lineups and questionable on-field decisions as reasons for India's underperformance. Some have suggested that Gambhir's "rigidity" and "obsession with all-rounders over specialist players" have contributed to the negative sentiment.
In response to the criticism, Gambhir defended his approach and emphasized that the blame lies with everyone, starting with him. He also noted that the team was in a transition phase and had been playing without their captain, Shubman Gill, who was injured. Gambhir blamed Gill's injury for the Test series defeat. He argued that losing an in-form batter who had scored over 1000 runs in seven matches was a significant blow.
This isn't the first time the idea of split coaching has been discussed in Indian cricket. While Gautam Gambhir has previously stated that he ideally prefers one captain for all formats, he acknowledged the impracticality of this approach in today's packed cricket calendar. He suggested that having two captains could distribute the pressure and allow players to be more relaxed when not leading the team.
The exchange between Gambhir and Jindal highlights the intense pressure and scrutiny surrounding the Indian cricket team, especially after a series of disappointing performances. It also raises questions about the role and responsibilities of team owners in publicly commenting on coaching decisions and team strategies.
