Follow UsWhile India’s white-ball fortune has skyrocketed, their results in the red-ball format have plummeted to an all-time low. Under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching stint, the Indian side were whitewashed for the first time ever in a three-match series, and also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.
If that wasn’t enough, India trail 0-1 in the two-match Test series against South Africa. If India are to save themselves from further blushes, they will need to bat out on day five, or score 522 runs in 90 overs – a daunting task.
Despite a series of failures, Chennai Super Kings’ legend Suresh Raina isn’t too worried about Gautam Gambhir’s coaching form, stating that the former KKR mentor has worked really hard on the team.
“Gauti bhaiya (Gautam Gambhir) has worked really hard and he is not at all at fault. The players have to work really hard and play well. Under him we have been doing great in the white-ball format where we just won the ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this year. The players have to score, the coach can only guide, advise and give support to the players” Raina told ‘PTI Videos’, reported The Indian Express.
Not just that, Raina also added that Gambhir loves Indian cricket, and is doing his best but the players also need to reciprocate and do well for the country.
“If they (the players) are facing any issues, they must be communicating to the coach that this is the issue. If the players do well then the coach will be also applauded. But if the team is not doing well, it should not be that the coach should be sacked from his post. I have played with Gautam bhaiya, he loves Indian cricket team, he loves cricket, I have played and won the World Cup with him. So, he has done really well for the country and it is the players’ responsibility to do well,” he added.
India’s focus will swiftly shift to the three-match ODI series against the same opponent, featuring both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who last played in Australia.
“Ro-Ko (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) will be back, yes. They did well in Australia and will surely strengthen the ODI squad against South Africa. Both of them are great ambassadors for world and Indian Cricket. When they’ll be in the side then the atmosphere will be different, Rishabh Pant is also back after a while so it will be fun to watch the ODI series,” he said.