Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has defended Gautam Gambhir, urging the public and media not to single out one individual after India’s 0-2 whitewash by South Africa in the recent Test series, South Africa’s first series win on Indian soil in over a decade. Shastri emphasised that effective communication and man-management by the coach and team management are essential to motivate players and secure victories.
Ravi Shastri’s advice for Gautam Gambhir
Speaking on the Prabhat Khabar podcast, Shastri explained that coaches often face the brunt of criticism when a team loses. Drawing from his own experience, he said that he would have taken responsibility if he were in Gambhir’s position. However, he cautioned that patience, communication, and strong management skills are key to handling such pressure.
“If your performance is poor, you could be fired. Therefore, you need to maintain patience. Communication and management skills are crucial here. Only then can you motivate the players to win. The most important thing is to enjoy whatever you do. Don’t take it as pressure,” Shastri said.
While Gambhir has excelled in white-ball formats, his record in Tests has been less impressive. Under him, India have won just two Test series, lost three, and drawn one. Shastri stressed that blaming a single person for a team loss is unfair, and players must also take responsibility for results.
“When results come, the public should remember that players must also take responsibility. It should not be that one individual is targeted. I’ve been through it, and that’s why I’m speaking from experience. Players should feel the pride and the hurt of losing. Until that happens, things will not move forward,” Shastri added.
