Guwahati: In a strong defence of under-fire head coach Gautam Gambhir, India’s assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak has lashed out at critics, calling the constant targeting of Gambhir “very wrong” and possibly driven by hidden agendas, while squarely blaming the team’s batters and bowlers for the humiliating defeat against South Africa in Kolkata.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the second Test starting November 22, Kotak expressed personal hurt over the criticism directed solely at Gambhir after India slumped to their fourth home loss in the last year under his leadership. The Kolkata Test ended in just two-and-a-half days, exposing glaring flaws in the hosts’ performance.
“It hurts me because I am part of the staff. Everyone keeps mentioning Gautam Gambhir’s name repeatedly. This is not the right way. Maybe some people have their own agenda – I wish them well, but this system is very wrong,” Kotak said emphatically.
He pointed out the unfairness, noting no one was questioning individual players: “Why is no one saying this batter did wrong, that bowler could have done better, or we faltered in batting?”
Kotak’s candid remarks come at a time when Gambhir, who replaced Rahul Dravid, is facing intense scrutiny — ironically, they are reminiscent of how Gambhir himself had criticised former coaches like Ravi Shastri in the past.
All eyes are now focused on whether the team management can rally the players for a comeback with the series on the line.