India coach Gautam Gambhir He is under intense pressure from all angles due to the team's recent performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Gambhir has now been criticized by the former Australian pacer Brad Hogg For his earlier comments regarding India's resilience.
Before the five-point test series Against Australia, Gautam Gambhir stated that he wants India to be able to adapt according to the situation. However, Hogg feels that the Indian team was only playing in an aggressive manner.
According to the former left-arm pacer, the team must know how to play defensively if it wants to save a Test match. But India's very aggressive style affected them badly which resulted in a flurry of wickets.
Brad Hogg questions India's 'resilience' under Gautam Gambhir
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Brad Hogg recalled Gautam Gambhir's earlier comments in which he wanted the Indian team to adapt. Hogg called on the Indian team to learn how to play defensively along with their attacking game in order to save a Test match.
“One thing that Gautam Gambhir said earlier is that he wants his players to be adaptable, to have that aggressive brand of cricket, but when they have to save a Test match, have their defensive style as well. I really haven't,” Hogg said. I see that in the Indian team doing that as we move forward.”
Team India has been playing a very aggressive game which has even cost them Test matches. However, such ultra-aggressive play gave them an unexpected win over Bangladesh in the two-match Test series.
India has naturally aggressive batsmen like Yashavi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy. Pant smashed a fast 61 off 33 balls in the second innings of the Sydney Test on a pitch that was doing a lot for the bowlers.
Gautam Gambhir Statement on India's Resilience
India coach Gautam Gambhir had earlier said that he wants the team to be able to adapt to every situation. Gambhir wanted India to be able to score 400 runs in one day as well as bat for two days to save a Test match.
“We want to be the team that can score 400 runs in a day and can bat for two days to save a Test match as well. That is the growth and adaptability that we are looking for. This is what Test cricket really is,” Gambhir was quoted as saying by India Today newspaper. Changing clothes, they can do both.”
However, adaptability has been missing so far in the Indian batting line-up. The batsmen could not stay in the crease for long and seemed eager to take the game forward very early.
T20 cricket is believed to be one of the main reasons behind Indian batsmen's lack of defence. Players play a lot of T20 cricket and often back themselves to score runs quickly rather than staying at the crease for too long.
Brad Hogg talks about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Brad Hogg also pointed out Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff regarding India's decline. He also talked about the poor form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma which hurt India badly in the Test series against Australia.
“So, should Gautam Gambhir go or will the new coach bring in his coaching staff or will it be the assistant coaches who should also go. But I think during that particular period, you had Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli there as well,” Hogg pointed out.
“The two leaders who were not at the top of their game either. So, there are a number of variables you can look for, which was India's demise at Test level over a certain period,” he noted.
The upcoming Champions Trophy will be important for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and could determine their future. Both players are under great pressure after their recent decline.
