A rift has come to the fore between Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and head coach Gautam Gambhir after the massive 408-run defeat in the second and final Test against South Africa in Guwahati. It is being said that on the last day in Guwahati, Ravindra Jadeja disobeyed the orders of Gautam Gambhir.
On the final day, when India needed to show some fight while chasing an impossible target, the team was asked to play completely defensively, and they were bowled out for just 140 while chasing 549 against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Ravindra Jadeja disobeyed Gautam Gambhir’s order in Guwahati Test
In the second innings, Jadeja was the highest run scorer by playing a brilliant inning of 54 runs in 87 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes. The Indian all-rounder was able to score so many runs because he played his natural game despite Gambhir ordering him to play only defensive cricket.
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According to Cricblogger report, Gautam Gambhir instructed the Indian players to be completely defensive instead of letting the batsmen play freely, despite the hosts having already missed the chance to draw or win the final Test against the Proteas in Guwahati.
Following orders from the Indian head coach, only Jadeja showed some intent and played a few shots, but the rest remained on the front foot and avoided any aggressive strokes. As a result, the entire innings looked flat, slow and disappointing, leaving everyone confused and frustrated.
Indian players remained confused about the pitch of Guwahati.
However, the confusion actually began before the Guwahati Test match even began. There was uncertainty about the nature of the pitch. After South Africa scored 489 runs in the first innings, the Indian bowlers said that the pitch was flat and offered nothing.
But when India were bundled out for just 201 runs in their first innings, the explanation changed again, leaving many wondering what the pitch was really doing.
Adding to the mystery, Kuldeep Yadav played a steady and responsible innings of 19 runs off 134 balls, which made everyone question how hard the surface at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium actually was.
The resistance from the Indian wrist spinners led some players to think that the batting failures were more due to poor application than pitch conditions.
The atmosphere inside the dressing room was already depressing. Some players believe that Gambhir is giving full support to only a select group, leaving others feeling neglected and unsafe.
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The rift in the Indian camp has deepened as players feel ignored under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir
This feeling of favoritism has created divisions in the team. According to insiders, many players are unhappy and feel that they are not getting a fair chance. To make matters worse, Gambhir was no longer with the team after the heavy defeat in the final Test against South Africa.
The Indian head coach immediately returned home after the heavy defeat and will rejoin the team before the start of the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa. His sudden departure has increased the surprise at a time when the team needed unity the most.
Besides, Gambhir is also running the team like a non-playing captain inside the dressing room. He is selecting the playing XI, telling the curator what kind of pitch to prepare, giving guidance to the players on batting and bowling, determining field placements and even deciding on bowling changes.
