Cricket

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian men's cricket team has hit a rough patch, with the team suffering a humiliating whitewash in a home Test series against New Zealand. This setback comes after a disappointing ODI series loss to the same opposition.Gambhir, who took over from the highly successful Rahul Dravid in July, was expected to continue the team's winning ways. However, the team's recent performances have raised concerns about his coaching abilities.One of the main challenges facing Gambhir is the lack of experience in coaching at the First Class or international level. Despite this, he was given a long-term contract and allowed to handpick his coaching staff.The team's poor performance has led to murmurs of discontent within the squad, with some players reportedly unhappy with the coaching staff's methods. However, captain Rohit Sharma has defended Gambhir and his team, emphasizing the need for players to support the coaching staff."The coaching staff have been good. They have just come in. It's not been a lot of time for them. They are also understanding how this team operates, and how the player operates," Sharma said after India's loss in the third Test."It's the players' responsibility to make their job or make their life easier because it's never easy for anyone to come in and start doing what they are doing because there are a lot of different individuals here and they operate slightly differently."Gambhir has admitted that the team's recent losses are a setback, but he remains confident in his ability to turn things around."I never expected a very easy run for me because international cricket is never easy and I believe that. I know that we lost in Sri Lanka, we have lost at home as well against New Zealand. It's not a great place to be in but all we can do is be honest to ourselves and keep working hard."Gambhir's coaching staff includes Paras Mhambrey, who was an integral member of Dravid's coaching team. Mhambrey has said that it took him and his colleagues almost a year to get used to the methods of the various individuals in the Indian team.With the team set to tour Australia for a two-month Test series, Gambhir will be under immense pressure to deliver results. The Border Gavaskar Trophy will be followed by a limited overs leg culminating with the ICC Champions Trophy.

India's recent Test series whitewash against New Zealand has raised concerns over the poor form of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit has managed only 133 runs in his last 10 Test innings, while Kohli has scored 192.Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has emphasized the need for these experienced players to take responsibility. "They need to take full responsibility because they are senior players. They are in bad form at the moment, and because of that India's collapse looks worse," Ojha said.Ojha, who played alongside both Rohit and Kohli, believes their poor form is particularly concerning given the young age of the rest of India's top 6. Kohli and Rohit are the only two players over 30 in the lineup, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (22), Shubman Gil (25), Rishabh Pant (27), and Sarfaraz Khan (27) completing the batting order.Ojha warned that Australia will not make it easy for Rohit and Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "The Australia series will be crucial for both of them. If they find form there, India will feel a little bit comfortable. Down Under, Australia will know that India are coming after losing a home series, and that too a whitewash. Australia will be ahead in mind games and make good use of it," he said.While India has won the last two Test series in Australia, their experienced batters have separate issues to deal with. Kohli did not play in three of the four Tests in 2020/21, while Rohit Sharma may miss the first Test at Perth due to an unconfirmed personal reason.

Rohit Sharma's recent batting performances have raised concerns among cricket experts, particularly after India's 3-0 Test series defeat to New Zealand. The Indian captain has managed only 133 runs in his last 10 Test innings, prompting scrutiny of his technique and approach.Former teammate Dinesh Karthik believes that Rohit needs to adjust his aggressive style to succeed in Test cricket. "In Test cricket, intent is getting him into a safe space where he feels he can use that when in trouble," Karthik said. "It's not a method where he's using it like he's using it in white ball cricket."Karthik suggests that Rohit should trust his technique and adopt a more balanced approach. "The one thing that Rohit Sharma is not doing, which he did very well when he took up his role as an opener, is trusting his technique," Karthik added. "He went to England, he left a lot of balls. He decided that he can play shots. But what he'd do is, anything outside the off-stump, he would let it go. 'I am going to have the mental strength to bat long.'"Rohit's Test average in 2024 stands at a modest 33, indicating a need for improvement. The Indian team will be hoping that he can rediscover his form and lead them to success in upcoming Test matches.

India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns about the team's performance, particularly the struggles of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri believes it's crucial for these players to step up in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Ghavri expressed disappointment with India's batting performance against New Zealand, highlighting the lack of big partnerships and the inability to post competitive totals. He emphasized the need for top-order batters to occupy the crease and score substantial runs.Regarding Rohit and Kohli, Ghavri acknowledged their class but stressed the need for them to regain form. He believes their performances in Australia will determine their future in Test cricket. "If they don't perform, it's time for them to call a time on their Test careers," he said.Ghavri also raised concerns about India's pace attack, particularly the absence of Mohammed Shami. He believes Shami's experience and skill would have been invaluable in Australia. The former pacer expressed confidence in Jasprit Bumrah but acknowledged the added pressure he will face leading the bowling unit.Ghavri suggested that India could consider bringing back Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, given their experience and stability in the middle order. He believes their presence would have been beneficial in Australia.Regarding India's struggles against spin, Ghavri attributed it to poor shot selection and a lack of patience. He emphasized the need for batters to adapt to Test conditions and play with discipline.Overall, Ghavri expressed concern about India's chances in Australia, predicting a 60-40 advantage for the hosts. He believes the team needs to perform well, especially Rohit and Kohli, to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are currently experiencing a temporary slump in form, urging fans not to overreact. Despite their disappointing performances in the recent Test series against New Zealand, Gavaskar emphasized that both players have faced challenging batting conditions and have been unlucky at times."Even the best players go through bad patches," Gavaskar told the Indian Express. "These weren't easy pitches to bat on in all three matches. Sometimes you need a bit of luck... But when going through a bad patch, everything goes against you."Gavaskar also highlighted the importance of match practice for the Indian team, suggesting that the top batters should have participated in the Duleep Trophy prior to the New Zealand series. He noted that the New Zealand bowlers had a better understanding of the Indian pitches due to their experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL)."They should have had some practice, definitely," Gavaskar said. "It's a long gap. I know we beat Bangladesh and therefore it looked as if it's going to be a cakewalk against New Zealand. But New Zealand obviously had the better attack."Despite the recent setbacks, Gavaskar remains optimistic about the Indian team's prospects. He believes that the players will have time to prepare for the upcoming tour of Australia and will be ready to perform at their best."India's Test stars now have a few days off before they start preparations for the Australia tour," Gavaskar said. "I'm sure they will be working hard to improve their form and get ready for the challenges ahead."

Team India's batting woes continued in the second innings of the Wankhede Test, as New Zealand's spinners wreaked havoc, leaving India reeling at 29/5 in their pursuit of 147 runs. The Indian stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, failed to deliver once again, falling prey to the guile of the Kiwi spinners.Rohit Sharma's reckless shot against Matt Henry drew criticism from commentator Harsha Bhogle, who questioned the Indian skipper's approach. "Trying to get my head round Rohit Sharma's approach. Struggling. That was a wicket on a platter and ends a disappointing home season for him with 133 in 10 innings," Bhogle tweeted.Kohli, who has struggled throughout the series, managed just a single run before being dismissed by Ajaz Patel. Bhogle highlighted the poor form of both Kohli and Rohit, stating, "Kohli 192 in 10 innings. Rohit 133. It has been a forgettable home season for the big two."India's batting has been a major concern throughout the series, with Rohit and Kohli failing to provide the necessary contributions. Their underwhelming performances have played a significant role in India's first Test series loss at home since 2012.The Indian team now faces an uphill task to salvage a draw in the Wankhede Test. With the spinners dominating, India's batsmen will need to show resilience and patience to navigate the challenging conditions.

India's upcoming tour of Australia will be a daunting challenge, especially considering their recent 0-3 defeat to New Zealand. However, the team has opted to forgo practice matches in favor of match simulations with India A. This decision was made to maximize preparation time and ensure that all players receive adequate workload.Captain Rohit Sharma explained the rationale behind this choice. He emphasized that the team has a large squad of 19 players and only three days were allotted for practice matches. He expressed concerns that this limited time would not allow for sufficient workload distribution.Instead, India will engage in match simulations where batters can spend extended periods at the crease and bowlers can bowl a significant number of deliveries. This format allows for more targeted preparation and flexibility, as batters can be retired out to give others an opportunity to bat.India A, which includes several members of the Test squad, has already played a four-day game against Australia A. Rohit expressed confidence that the match simulation with India A will provide valuable preparation, especially given the similarities between the WACA and Optus Stadium, where the first Test will be played.The five-Test series in Australia has taken on even greater significance as India needs to win four matches to qualify for the World Test Championship final next year. Rohit's availability for the first Test is uncertain, but he remains hopeful of joining the team in Perth.

India's Test captain, Rohit Sharma, has hinted at the possibility of missing the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia due to personal reasons. The series opener against Australia is scheduled to begin in Perth on November 22.Rohit expressed uncertainty about his participation, stating, "Not sure whether I will be going, fingers crossed." If he is unable to make it, Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain, will lead the team in the first Test.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has gained added significance as both India and Australia aim to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC). India's recent 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand at home has put pressure on the team to perform well in Australia.Rohit acknowledged the need to recover from the defeats and focus on the upcoming tour. "We will focus on (upcoming) Australia series, and not look too far ahead," he said.After the first Test in Perth, which concludes on November 26, there will be a 10-day break before the Adelaide game, which starts on December 6. During this break, India will play a two-day warm-up match in Canberra.Rohit's absence, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to India's chances in the series. The team will be hoping that he recovers in time to lead them in the crucial opening Test.

India's humiliating 3-0 Test series defeat at home against New Zealand has left captain Rohit Sharma grappling with a bitter pill to swallow. The skipper acknowledged the team's collective failure, citing numerous mistakes and a lack of top-notch cricket.Chasing a modest 147 to salvage some pride, India collapsed to a dismal 121 all out. Despite Rishabh Pant's valiant 64, the team's batting woes continued, with the top order crumbling to 29 for 5. Pant's dismissal to a controversial third-umpire decision proved to be the final nail in the coffin."Losing a series, losing a Test match is never easy, but [this is] something that is not easily digested," Rohit lamented. "We didn't play our best cricket. We know that and we accept that. New Zealand played better than us throughout the series."Rohit highlighted the team's inability to post substantial first-innings totals in the first two Tests, putting them on the back foot. He also acknowledged the younger players' ability to score runs on challenging pitches, while he and Virat Kohli struggled."Those guys showed how to bat on these surfaces," Rohit said of the younger lot. "You have to be slightly ahead, and be proactive when you're playing on a pitch like that."Rohit's own batting form has been under scrutiny, with only one half-century in the series. He admitted to being disappointed with his performance and acknowledged that his captaincy could have been better.Despite the setbacks, Rohit remained optimistic about the team's future. "We are aware of what we need to do," he said. "It's just that, this was an unfortunate series where it didn't come off."