Former Indian opener Sadagopan Ramesh has slammed head coach Gautam Gambhir after India suffered a 0-2 loss against South Africa. India suffered an ignominious loss of 408 runs in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday.
Ramesh blamed Gambhir for forcing experienced players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin into retirement. Furthermore, the former left-hander said Gambhir has never coached a state team whereas chief selector Ajit Agarkar has never been a state selector and thus how can they ask Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play in the domestic circuit.
Ramesh said on his YouTube Channel, “You said even star players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma must play domestic cricket to be considered for selection. Yet, you’ve never even coached a state team or Agarkar hasn’t even been a state selector. So it’s like one logic for you and something else for others.”
The former flamboyant batter praised former coach Rahul Dravid for taking the blame for the loss on his shoulders and crediting players for the wins.
“After losing the last match, you said this is an inexperienced side. But you were the one who didn’t want the experienced players and put them under pressure to push them out. In the post-match press conference, he said everyone should be blamed, including me. This is where Rahul Dravid was different. He said the blame should be only on me and only the praise should go to the team.”
Ramesh added that a head coach should stand up for the players and take the blame on his shoulders.
“There is no doubt that the players are at fault too. But this is where as a coach, you stand up and take the blame for them. If you say something like that, the players will give it their life while playing for you,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).
“Even if Suryakumar Yadav had dropped that catch in the T20 World Cup final and India had lost, Rohit Sharma would not have said a word on India losing because Suryakumar Yadav dropped the catch. That’s when a team will start gravitating towards a captain and a coach.”
India will next take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series.
