Cricket

After a humiliating 3-0 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir faces immense pressure as the team embarks on a challenging five-Test tour of Australia. The honeymoon period for Gambhir has ended abruptly, raising questions about the direction of Indian cricket under his leadership.India's recent struggles have exposed tactical frailties and a lack of transition planning. The team's aging core, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, has shown signs of decline. Gambhir has defended his decision to retain these veterans, but he must also identify and nurture young talents to shape the future of Indian cricket.Gambhir's tactical decisions have also come under scrutiny. After losing 27 wickets to spin in Sri Lanka, India prepared spin-friendly pitches for the New Zealand series. However, the strategy backfired as the team struggled against lesser-skilled bowlers. With Nathan Lyon looming in Australian conditions, India's spin woes could persist.Despite the setbacks, Gambhir remains determined to instill a fighting spirit in his players. He has promoted Washington Sundar and is considering introducing young talents like Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana. However, he must avoid tactical missteps and foster unity within the squad.The Australia tour will be a defining moment for Gambhir's tenure as head coach. It will test the team's technical and tactical preparedness, as well as its resilience. If India can overcome this tough phase, it will serve as a blueprint for how champions rise from the ashes of defeat.

The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy is just around the corner, and excitement is building for the clash between India and Australia. Despite some injury concerns, former Australian cricketer Mike Hussey believes India will put up a strong fight in the five-match series.Hussey acknowledges that India has a history of success in Australia, having won the last two BGTs Down Under. However, he believes the Australian players are eager to prove themselves and level the playing field. He emphasizes the high quality of cricket expected in the series, which has become one of the most sought-after events in the cricket calendar.Hussey highlights the importance of the series for Australian players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, who may see it as their last opportunity to beat India in Australia. He also praises the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as India's new head coach, noting his competitive spirit and ability to instill a winning mentality in his teams.Despite some unsettledness in the Indian camp, Hussey believes the team has the depth and talent to overcome adversity. He dismisses the notion that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are finished, emphasizing their legendary status and ability to perform under pressure.The series is also set to feature a battle between two modern-day great off-spinners, R Ashwin and Nathan Lyon. Hussey expects both bowlers to play crucial roles for their respective teams, with Lyon's ability to bowl both offensively and defensively being particularly valuable.Hussey acknowledges that India's recent struggles against spin could be a factor, but he believes Lyon will need to bowl well in Australian conditions to be effective. He also emphasizes the importance of a group mentality for both teams, with India needing to rely on more than just Jasprit Bumrah to succeed.Hussey believes that the IPL has helped foster friendships between Indian and Australian players, but he stresses that once the game starts, it's all about national pride and competition. He advises KL Rahul to trust his game and focus on his preparation, as he is one of the best players in the world when he's at his best.Overall, Hussey is optimistic about the upcoming series, predicting high-quality cricket and a fascinating battle between two great teams.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia will be a crucial test for India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, according to former India pacer Harbhajan Singh. India suffered a historic 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand in a Test series at home, and they need to bounce back in style against the mighty Aussies. The World Test Championship finale spot is also at stake.Gambhir's anger and patience will be tested, but he needs to stay calm if he wants Team India to perform better, said Harbhajan. "It is difficult to run big teams, everyone takes time. If the results were fine, everyone would have said 'see, Gautam is making the team win'. The series against Australia is important, a lot of things will be tested. Gautam Gambhir who will be sitting outside, his anger and patience will be tested," Harbhajan said on Jatin Sapru's YouTube channel."He cannot control anything from the outside, big players get frustrated sitting on the sidelines. This Test, Gambhir needs to pass. The tour is very important for Gambhir. In this country, everyone has an opinion. Gautam Gambhir must be feeling low, he is on the radar. If the series doesn't go well, Gambhir will be at the receiving end. I want him to stay calm and for the team to perform well," he added.According to a report by the Indian Express, India skipper Rohit Sharma will not play in the first Test match against Australia, and Jasprit Bumrah will serve as captain in his absence. The report claimed that Rohit has already informed the BCCI that he will be spending more time with wife Ritika Sajdeh following the birth of their second child."We were hoping that he (Rohit) would travel but he has informed the BCCI that he can't go now as he needs some more time. He will be flying to Australia for the pink-ball Test match, the second match, in Adelaide. There is a nine-day gap between the first and second Test matches, so Rohit will be able to be there on time," a BCCI official told Indian Express.

A verbal clash has erupted between Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir and Australian legend Ricky Ponting, igniting a war of words that has drawn reactions from former cricketers.The controversy began when Ponting criticized Virat Kohli's recent form and questioned his place in the Test team. Gambhir, in a press conference, reacted strongly, urging Ponting to focus on his own team.However, Gambhir's comments have sparked criticism from some former players, including ex-England captain Michael Vaughan. Vaughan, in a podcast discussion, labeled Gambhir as a "spicy" coach and expressed disagreement with his stance on barring foreign pundits from commenting on the Indian team.Vaughan argued that punditry should not be restricted to former players of a particular team. He pointed out that many foreign pundits have valuable insights and perspectives to offer."I don't quite agree with Gautam," Vaughan said. "But I do like a bit of spice and I like the fact that he is going to be very prickly."Vaughan also predicted that Gambhir's prickly nature could lead to challenges for the Indian team as they face setbacks in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.As the series progresses, more verbal battles are expected between Gambhir and retired cricketers working as pundits. The clash highlights the growing tension between coaches and pundits, with coaches seeking to protect their teams from external criticism.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has come to the defense of India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, urging patience and support ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Gambhir's tenure as coach has been met with mixed reactions, particularly after India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand and ODI defeat to Sri Lanka. However, Ganguly believes it's premature to judge Gambhir's performance, given his short time in the role."All I will say is let him be," Ganguly told Revsportz. "I saw some criticism of what he said in the press conference. It is the way he is. Just because he has lost three Test matches and a one-day series against Sri Lanka, the straight talk has not been looked at nicely. But that is the way he is. Let's give Gambhir a chance."Gambhir's outspoken nature has drawn attention, particularly his comments about Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting. Ponting had expressed concerns over Virat Kohli's Test form, prompting Gambhir to suggest that Ponting focus on his own team.Ganguly defended Gambhir's direct approach, arguing that it could be beneficial in the high-stakes series against Australia. "Ultimately, you have to go and play the game hard," he said. "That is the way it is and it has happened for ages against Australian cricket teams. That makes this series even more competitive and more followed by people."India needs a 4-0 series victory to directly qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Ganguly believes that Gambhir's combative style could be an asset in this challenging endeavor."I think he is a good coach," Ganguly said. "He has got a good cricketing brain. He is a fighter. He is a winner. He has got a lot of experience. I think he will do well for India."

Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the head coach of the Indian cricket team has raised concerns among former Australian captain Tim Paine. Paine believes that Gambhir's "prickly" coaching style may not be a good fit for the team, especially in the wake of their recent 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand.Paine highlighted the contrast between Gambhir's approach and that of former coach Ravi Shastri, who was known for his positive and motivating style. He expressed concern that Gambhir's "prickly" nature could create a tense atmosphere within the team, especially under pressure.Paine's comments stem from a recent media interaction where Gambhir took issue with Ricky Ponting's remarks on Virat Kohli's struggling form. Gambhir's response, which Paine described as "prickly," has raised questions about his ability to handle criticism and stay calm under pressure.Paine believes that Gambhir's biggest concern is not the form of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, but his own ability to remain composed under pressure. He emphasized that the coach's demeanor can have a significant impact on the team's performance, especially in a high-stakes environment like the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Gambhir's appointment has also raised questions about the future of the Indian team. The team has struggled in recent months, and the loss to New Zealand has further dented their confidence. Paine believes that if India fails to start strong in the Perth Test, it could be a "long summer" for Gambhir and the team.

The ongoing feud between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has taken a new turn, with ex-cricketer Brad Haddin revealing the backstory behind the war of words.The conflict began when Gambhir responded to Ponting's comments on Virat Kohli's form, urging him to focus on Australian cricket. Ponting retorted by calling Gambhir a "prickly character."Haddin, who played under Ponting at Delhi Capitals in 2018, hinted at a deeper reason for the animosity. "Gambhir is a character that would use this as an us versus them mentality," he said. "His reaction was prickly, and you don't need your coach to get caught up in that sort of scenario unless his tactic is to build an us versus them."Haddin teased a forthcoming revelation about the backstory between Gambhir and Ponting. "I know what the backstory is. I'll tell you; just wait till later of the week. There was a little elbow, suspensions, and fines," he said.Haddin compared Gambhir's approach to that of Australian rugby coach Wayne Bennett, who often takes the spotlight to deflect pressure from his team. "It's out of the Wayne Bennett style of coaching," he said. "We're not talking about Rohit Sharma or Kohli now. We're talking about Gambhir and Ricky. He has bitten back, taken the pressure away from his team."While acknowledging Gambhir's "prickly" nature, Haddin questioned whether he was intentionally creating a distraction for his team, which is under pressure after losing the series to New Zealand. "Is he doing this now to take it away from his teammates?" he asked. "If it's an emotional reaction, then there's a problem. But if he's doing it to deflect things away and take it [attention] away from his team, that's a different thing."

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has reignited his feud with India head coach Gautam Gambhir, taking a fresh dig at Gambhir's comments on Ponting's assessment of Virat Kohli's recent form.Ponting had expressed concern over Kohli's batting struggles ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, prompting Gambhir to advise Ponting to focus on Australian cricket. Ponting responded by calling Gambhir a "prickly character," and now he has suggested that Gambhir's reaction was influenced by India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand.Speaking on the podcast show "The Run Home with Joel & Fletch," Ponting clarified his remarks about Kohli but couldn't resist taking another jab at Gambhir."I'm not sure if I mentioned a couple of them, but I reckon he's just throwing me in the deep end, trying to find their two most experienced and make sure when they come out, they put that back on me," Ponting said.Ponting maintained that his comments were not presented in their entirety and believes Gambhir misinterpreted them, reacting after the loss against New Zealand."I was asked the other night if I was concerned about Virat Kohli's form. A day before, I had read his stats from the last five years, so it was clear in my mind. I think he made only two (three) centuries in the last five years. His average in India is now down to 30 from 90, during this period. So yes, I would be concerned. And I said if you ask him about his form, he would be concerned because it is nowhere near what it used to be. But then I said since he loves playing in Australia and has a great record here, so if there ever was a tour where he could turn things around, it would be this.""But they never talked about the second part. Then Gambhir went and faced the press having just lost against New Zealand. The hair on the back of his neck is already standing up. We got a bit of history as well, but he took a chance to fire back at me," he added.Ponting's comments have further escalated the ongoing feud between the two former cricketers, adding another layer to the rivalry between Australia and India.

Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed confidence in the form of star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, despite their recent struggles against spin bowling. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the team's departure for the Test series against Australia, Gambhir dismissed concerns over the duo's form, emphasizing their hunger to perform."I have no concerns over Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's form. The hunger in that dressing room is important for me, and I feel there is a lot of hunger," Gambhir said.Gambhir's defense of Sharma and Kohli comes after the team's humiliating Test series loss against New Zealand at home. Both batters struggled to score runs, leading to criticism from experts and fans alike. However, Gambhir believes that the duo will bounce back in Australia."There are incredible people in the dressing room who have done a great job," Gambhir said. "I am not feeling the heat. It's an honor and privilege to coach the Indian team."Gambhir also addressed the team's options for the opener's slot, with KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran being considered alongside Sharma. He also confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side in the series-opening Perth Test if Sharma is unavailable for personal reasons.The first Test between India and Australia starts in Perth on November 22. Gambhir expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform well, despite the challenges they face."I am not thinking about transition but the five Test matches. Transition or no transition, if that has to happen, will happen, but I see some incredibly tough characters in that dressing room who are hungry to do well," Gambhir said.