India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, reportedly had an explosive reaction in the dressing room following India’s crushing 184-run defeat to Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The loss, which saw India lose seven wickets for just 34 runs in the final session, effectively dashed India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time.
Batting Collapse Leads to Gambhir’s Outburst
India’s batting woes continued as they were bowled out for just 155 while chasing a daunting 340-run target. The collapse began after tea when India appeared poised to settle for a draw, with Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal holding firm in the second session. However, Pant’s ill-advised lofted shot to a half-tracker from Travis Head led to his dismissal, sparking a catastrophic collapse.
Following Pant’s exit, India crumbled quickly, with Virat Kohli, Jaiswal, and others failing to handle the pressure. Gambhir, visibly frustrated, had seen enough. Reports suggest he stormed into the dressing room after the match and expressed his discontent with the players’ approach, particularly the reckless shots played by the batsmen. Gambhir reportedly shouted, “Enough is enough,” making it clear that he would no longer tolerate such performances.
Threatening to Drop Non-Compliant Players
In a heated address, Gambhir warned the players that they would have to adhere to his strategies moving forward or face the consequences. While he refrained from naming individuals, his message was direct: players needed to adapt to the team’s needs and situation. “Forget your natural game; play according to the situation,” he said.
Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid following India’s T20 World Cup triumph, has had a tough tenure marked by multiple setbacks. India’s loss to Sri Lanka in an ODI series and a whitewash at home by New Zealand have marred his time as head coach. Despite a promising start in Australia, where India won the first Test under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy, the team’s form has declined sharply since then, culminating in the latest loss in Melbourne.
Gambhir’s New Approach: ‘Play My Way or Leave’
After this latest defeat, Gambhir made it clear that he would no longer allow players to play without following a structured team strategy. “For the last six months, I have allowed the team to do things their way. But now, I will decide how they play,” he said. His comments were seen as a veiled threat to those who refuse to conform to his methods. “Anyone who doesn’t abide by the strategy will be given a ‘thank you’,” Gambhir added, signaling that future non-compliance could lead to players being dropped.
With India’s next match fast approaching, the pressure is on both Gambhir and his squad to deliver a better performance and avoid another disappointing defeat.
