India head coach Gautam Gambhir has broken his silence regarding recent reports of unrest in the Indian dressing room, labelling them as “just reports, not truth”.
Speaking to the media ahead of the fifth and final Test against Australia, which is set to begin on Friday in Sydney, Gambhir stressed that internal team discussions, particularly between coaches and players, should remain private.
“It is important that debates between coach and player remain in the dressing room. Stern words were exchanged, but these were just reports, not the truth,” Gambhir said during the pre-match press conference.
He added that the focus should be on performance, as it is performance alone that secures a player’s place in the team.
“Indian cricket will be in safe hands till honest people stay in the dressing room. The only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance. There were honest words, and honesty is important,” he affirmed.
Gambhir, who has previously been vocal about his approach to team dynamics, also discussed the importance of a team-first mentality.
“There is only one tendency and there is only one discussion - it’s the team first ideology that matters. You need to play what the team needs. You can still play your natural game in a team sport, but if the team needs you, you need to play in a certain way,” he explained.
When questioned about his conversations with senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gambhir clarified that discussions had been purely centred on strategies to win the Test series.
“Every individual knows what areas they need to work on. We have only had one conversation with them, and that is how to win Test matches,” he revealed.
What happened in the Indian dressing room?
Following India’s heavy 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test, Gautam Gambhir reportedly delivered a no-nonsense address to the team, expressing his frustration and stating he "has had enough".
He criticised the players for prioritising their "natural game" over adapting to the situation. While refraining from naming individuals, Gambhir made it clear that such an approach would no longer be tolerated.
According to reports, Gambhir, who took over as coach in July, admitted to allowing the players more freedom during his initial months.
However, he revealed a shift in his stance, declaring that stricter measures would be enforced moving forward.
He warned players unwilling to follow the team’s pre-determined strategies would face exclusion, signalling a more authoritative approach to his coaching style.
These revelations come at a time when India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, with one final Test remaining. India and Australia are set to clash in the decisive match in Sydney, starting 3 January.
In other team news, Gambhir confirmed that pacer Akash Deep will miss the upcoming Sydney Test due to a stiff back. However, he refrained from naming a replacement for the fast bowler, leaving the decision on his replacement to be announced later.
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