Former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a firm stand for the head coach by saying it is not easy to manage a team, and a coach cannot pick up a bat and play
Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin (Pic: File Pic)
In the second Test match against South Africa, Team India suffered a loss by a huge margin of 408 runs at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
With this, the Proteas registered a clean sweep against India in their backyard. Following the series defeat, several groups of fans across social media platforms criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir, and they also demanded his removal from the head coach's position.
Former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a firm stand for the head coach by saying it is not easy to manage a team, and a coach cannot pick up a bat and play.
"Why are we doing this? It's a sport. Managing a team cannot be that easy. And yes, he is hurting too. We must understand that. It might feel nice to get someone sacked, but that's not how it should be," he said on his YouTube channel.
"I've never been that kind of person. It's not about supporting anyone, Gautam is not my relative. I could also point out 10 mistakes. Yes, mistakes happen, but anybody can make them. It's just that when they cost you, they become very expensive," added the former spinner.
Ashwin also stated that many people will raise their hands for Team India's head coach position, considering the hefty amount of money involved in it.
"We want to ask for responsibility. It's easy, because in Indian cricket, you know it and I know it -- there's a lot to gain and a lot of money involved. So many people are ready to take the job, and there will always be people putting their hat in the ring. But the fact is, a coach cannot pick up the bat and go out to play," said the 39-year-old former cricketer.
Further speaking, he feels that it is the players' responsibility to deliver performances, and he has not seen enough effort from the players to label the head coach as the problem.
"What can a coach do? I'm asking you a simple question. Put yourself in the coach's position. You may say a player needs continuity and that there has been a lot of rotation, fine, agreed. But the skill to play and perform is the player's responsibility," he said.
"I haven't seen enough responsibility taken by enough players to say the coach is the problem...I didn't see enough from the players' side to blame decision-making alone. Sure, decision-making can always be better, no doubt," added Ashwin.
He signed off by saying that an individual can't be blamed for the series loss.
"But I personally don't like this individual attack, because we always look for someone to blame," concluded the veteran of 106 Test matches.
(With PTI Inputs)
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