Team India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak spoke openly on the criticism of head coach Gautam Gambhir after the team’s defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Kotak said it was unfair to blame Gambhir, adding that the batsman and bowler failed to perform well for the Indian team.
India has been struggling in Test cricket during Gautam Gambhir’s tenure. The team has won only two of the last six home Tests. Chasing 124 runs in the first Test against South Africa, they were bundled out for just 93 runs. Notably, the Men in Blue suffered a 0-3 defeat in the home Test series against New Zealand last year.
Can’t understand why everyone is after Gautam Gambhir – Sitanshu Kotak
In the press conference before the match, Sitanshu Kotak said that Gautam Gambhir should not be blamed for the defeat. He told that the batsmen, bowlers and support staff could have handled things better. Kotak also said that it is unfair to blame the curator for the circumstances.
Kotak said, “I don’t understand why everyone is going after Gautam Gambhir. As a support staff, I feel bad. He has come and accepted that the curator gave what we had asked for. It is also unfair to blame the curator.”
“But this ‘serious’ thing, I think sometimes there are agendas. No one is asking how the players played or what the batting coach’s plans were,” he said.
We do not blame the Eden pitch on curator-Sitanshu Kotak
Sitanshu Kotak also said that curator Sujan Mukherjee is not responsible for the surface used in the first Test. He said that teams naturally prepare pitches to suit their strengths, adding that even the India management did not expect the wicket to change as rapidly as it did in the first two to three days.
Kotak said, “We don’t blame the curator for the Eden pitch. Every team plays according to its strengths. We didn’t expect the pitch to turn so quickly.”
Shubman Gill ruled out of second Test against South Africa in Guwahati
Temba Bavuma scored an unbeaten 55, his only half-century of the match, helping his team reach 153 runs in the third innings.
Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets in that innings, while Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each. Simon Harmer bowled a brilliant spell of 4/21, as the visitors bowled out India for just 93 runs. Washington Sundar scored 31 runs from 92 balls, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
India, led by Gautam Gambhir, will enter the second Test in Guwahati under pressure after a 30-run defeat to South Africa in the series opener. The match begins on November 22 and the hosts must win to avoid another home series defeat to the Proteas.
However, their preparations have been dealt a blow as captain Shubman Gill is expected to sit out due to a neck injury in Kolkata. The Indian Express reported that Gill has not fully recovered and Rishabh Pant is likely to captain the team.
Also read: South Africa gives official medical update on Simon Harmer
