Greg Chappell has weighed in on the Indian cricket team's recent performance, particularly their loss in the first Test match against England at Leeds, suggesting that the team's problems were largely "self-inflicted". The former Australian cricketer and coach of the Indian team between 2005 and 2007, pointed towards a lack of variety in the bowling attack and team management's preference for batting depth over a well-rounded bowling unit as key factors in the defeat.
Chappell highlighted that, with the exception of Jasprit Bumrah, India's seam bowlers are too similar, being right-arm, medium-fast, and operating at comparable angles. He emphasized the importance of variability in a bowling attack to force batsmen to recalibrate, a tactic that he believes was missing from India's approach. In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell suggested that including left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the lineup for the second Test at Birmingham could address this issue. He went as far as to call Kuldeep Yadav "possibly the best wrist spinner since Shane Warne".
Chappell also criticized the team management's inclination to prioritize batting depth at the expense of a stronger bowling attack. He disagreed with the selection of an extra batter who bowls as insurance against top-order collapses, arguing that the top six batsmen should be trusted to deliver runs, and the focus should be on securing the 20 wickets needed to win a Test match. He noted that Ravindra Jadeja, while a valuable player, is not a frontline spinner in English conditions and that a more balanced team is required for India to reverse their fortunes in the series. Chappell stated that Jadeja can be a support spinner if his batting is good enough, otherwise a rethink is necessary.
Furthermore, Chappell pinpointed specific errors during the Leeds Test, such as the no-ball that gave Harry Brook an early reprieve, as particularly costly. He also observed a lack of discipline among the bowlers, noting that they struggled to consistently land the ball in dangerous areas. He stressed the importance of bowlers working in partnerships, similar to batsmen, to maintain pressure and create opportunities.
These comments come in the wake of India's five-wicket loss in the first Test against England, where dropped catches also contributed to the defeat. While Chappell acknowledged the fielding errors, he maintained that the lack of variety in the bowling attack and other strategic missteps were more significant factors in the loss.
Chappell's tenure as coach of the Indian team was marked by controversy, particularly his falling out with then-captain Sourav Ganguly. Despite the controversies, Chappell has also expressed positive memories of his time in India. More recently, in November 2024, Chappell praised India's robust domestic cricket system for nurturing talent, citing Yashasvi Jaiswal as an example. He also lauded Rahul Dravid's influence in prioritizing red-ball cricket at the youth level.
