“Why are you blaming him?” - Sunil Gavaskar defends Gautam Gambhir after India’s whitewash to South Africa

Former Indian captain and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has backed the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has been under sharp criticism after India suffered a 0-2 whitewash at home against South Africa.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, Gavaskar asserted that a coach can only prepare a team, but it’s up to players to deliver in the middle. Furthermore, he also talked about Gambhir’s title wins in white ball cricket.

“He’s a coach. The coach can prepare a team. The coach can tell, you know, a guy with his experience. But it’s out there in the middle that the players have to deliver,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“Now, to those who are asking, you know, for him to be held accountable, my question, counter-question is: what did you do when India won the Champions Trophy under him? What did you do when India won the Asia Cup under him? “Did you say then – you’re asking for a sacking now – did you say then that he should be given an extended contract, a contract for life for one-day cricket and for T20 cricket?” he added.

“You have coaches, for example, Brendon McCullum is a coach for all three formats for England. A lot of countries have a coach who is there for all formats. But we tend to only look and point a finger at somebody when the team has lost. You’re not prepared to give him credit. If you’re not prepared to give him credit for the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup win, then please tell me why you want to blame him for the team out there on that 22-yard, not doing well. Why are you blaming him?” he concluded.

Interestingly, India suffered a second consecutive Test series whitewash to a SENA nation at home after earlier losing to New Zealand by 0-3 last year.

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