The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has sparked significant controversy following leaks from the Indian dressing room, drawing sharp criticism from former cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sreevats Goswami. This came after a report by The Indian Express detailed head coach Gautam Gambhir’s strong reaction to India’s 184-run defeat to Australia in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Pathan emphasised the importance of maintaining the sanctity of dressing room discussions, describing them as "sacred and confidential." Goswami echoed similar sentiments, condemning the breach of trust and calling it "not on."
According to the report, Gambhir, frustrated by the team's performance, delivered a blunt assessment, criticising players for prioritising their "natural game" over team requirements. Without naming specific individuals, he expressed disappointment at the lack of adaptability and declared that such behavior was no longer acceptable. Having provided players with considerable freedom since taking on the coaching role in July, Gambhir announced a shift to a stricter approach, warning that players who failed to align with team strategies would face exclusion.
These revelations come at a critical juncture, with India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series against Australia. The final Test, scheduled to begin on January 3 in Sydney, offers India a chance to salvage a series draw but under immense pressure.
The team’s struggles have attracted mounting scrutiny, exacerbated by a historic 0-3 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand in October-November — India’s first-ever clean sweep in home Tests. Adding to the turbulence, Rohit Sharma’s return to captaincy after missing the Perth Test on paternity leave coincided with India’s decline. While stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah led the team to a commanding 290-run win in Perth, subsequent results have been dismal.
India’s Boxing Day performance highlighted several concerns. After conceding a first-innings lead of 105 runs, the team failed to capitalize on Australia’s precarious position of 91 for 6 in the second innings, allowing the hosts to set a daunting target of 330. Despite resistance from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant in the second session, the momentum swung dramatically when Pant’s reckless dismissal to part-time spinner Travis Head initiated a collapse. India’s last seven wickets fell for just 34 runs, leaving them all out for 155.
Rishabh Pant has faced sharp criticism for his ill-timed shot, but the struggles of senior batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also drawn intense scrutiny. Rohit’s poor form persisted in Melbourne, with scores of just 9 in the second innings, while Kohli’s dismissal for 3 on a loose drive before lunch compounded India’s woes. KL Rahul, shuffled across the batting order, was dismissed for a duck.
As the series finale approaches, the team faces mounting internal and external challenges. Gambhir’s demand for greater discipline and adaptability, combined with the fallout from the dressing room leak, has placed added pressure on a squad already underperforming in the high-stakes contest.
