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The recent loss of the Test series against New Zealand has sparked a debate within the Indian cricket community, particularly regarding the roles of coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players. Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar, while acknowledging the disappointment of the loss, believes it is unfair to place the blame solely on Gambhir's shoulders.
Manjrekar, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, argued that the coach's influence on the team is minimal, as the captain remains in charge on the field. He did commend Gambhir for the selection of Washington Sundar, who made an immediate impact, but questioned the decision not to include Sarfaraz Khan or opt for a four-spinner strategy. However, he emphasized that placing responsibility on Gambhir for the team's performance would be unjust.
In contrast, former wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik attributed the series loss to the shortcomings of the senior players. He emphasized the lack of performance from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as well as the underwhelming contributions from R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Karthik believes that the responsibility for the defeat lies with these veteran players and that they should take ownership of their performances.
He further highlighted that the senior players, accustomed to celebrating victories and basking in the adulation of fans, must also be prepared to face criticism and accept accountability when the team loses. Karthik expressed his confidence that the players, when questioned about their performance in the series, would not offer positive feedback, highlighting the need for them to analyze their shortcomings and work towards improvement for future Test matches.
Source: "To Put Responsibility On Gautam Gambhir...": Ex India Star On 'Coach Factor' Behind Series Loss