Team India endured a disappointing five-wicket defeat at the hands of England in the opening Test of the five-match series at Headingley. The loss has evoked sharp responses from cricket experts, with ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri calling on present coach Gautam Gambhir to act firmly against habitual underperformers in the team.
Ravi Shastri Calls for Tougher Dressing Room Standards
Advertisement
Talking to Sky Sports Cricket, Shastri did not beat about the bush, claiming Gambhir needs to “go hard” on those players who are responsible for India’s avoidable mistakes. He stressed that creating a culture of accountability and discipline is necessary if India is to recover in the series.
“There are times when you have to be tough as a coach. Go extremely tough in that dressing room and scold a couple of guys if needed,” stated Shastri.
Fielding Gaffes Cost India Heavily
One of the primary causes of worry during the IND vs ENG 1st Test was India’s abysmal fielding. The team dropped five catches from England’s first innings, four of which were by Yashasvi Jaiswal alone.
One of the most destructive moments occurred on day five when Jaiswal let go of a vital catch of Ben Duckett, who was in his 90s. Duckett went on to score 149, a knock that was instrumental in England’s successful chase.
Advertisement
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant Under Fire
India’s miseries at the stumps persisted with Rishabh Pant, who squandered several chances to get rid of important batsmen like Joe Root and Ben Stokes, both of whom made the most of their opportunities and contributed crucial runs. Pant’s shoddy glovework added undue pressure on the bowlers and deprived India of crucial breakthroughs at junctures where they mattered the most.
Lower-Middle Order Collapse Proves Costly
Although solid starts were made by the top order in both innings, India’s lower-middle order collapsed. These collapses while batting at important times turned promising scenarios into clefts.
Shastri pointed out that India butchered the chance for making a massive first-innings total by saying, “You can’t set yourself a target of 550-600 possible, and then get weak and timid with a collapse. Intent and sense of responsibility must be present.”
Shubman Gill’s Leadership Gets Thumbs-Up
Despite the loss, Shubman Gill’s captaincy and personal performance were lauded. The young skipper made a mature hundred, displaying maturity that was beyond his age. Shastri emphasized that failures in fielding and lower-order batting were beyond the captain’s control and demanded the assistance of the coaching staff, headed by Gautam Gambhir, to fix these team problems.
Gautam Gambhir’s Task Before the 2nd Test
With India trailing 0-1 in the series, the pressure is mounting on head coach Gautam Gambhir to turn things around ahead of the 2nd Test starting July 2. Ravi Shastri’s strong words underline the urgent need for introspection and accountability. The Indian dressing room will need a serious reset if the team aims to mount a comeback and stay competitive in the series.
ALSO READ: Kieron Pollard Completes 700 Matches In The T20 Format
Advertisement