THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
India’s 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa brought moments of joy. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a brilliant century. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli showed they still have plenty to offer. The nine-wicket win in the final match was convincing and dominant.
But this victory cannot paper over the deep cracks in Indian cricket right now.
The Problem at the Top
Head coach Gautam Gambhir appears to be at the centre of the crisis. Reports suggest he wanted to build a young team for the future. He seemed uncomfortable having senior players like Rohit and Kohli in the squad. The problem is simple: you cannot drop players who keep scoring runs and winning matches.
This has created an impossible situation. Gambhir reportedly pressured both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to retire from Test cricket earlier this year. Former cricketer Manoj Tiwary claimed they wanted to continue but felt forced out due to the poor atmosphere created around them. Within months, the young team suffered a home whitewash against New Zealand, lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, and lost a home Test series to South Africa.
The tension between Gambhir and the senior players is now an open secret. Communication has broken down. Trust has been lost.
Confusion in Team Selection
The confusion goes beyond just the seniors. Look at the ODI squad for this South Africa series. Gambhir selected three wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel. This makes no sense. Any cricket expert will tell you that two wicketkeepers are the maximum you need in a 15-man squad. Having three means you sacrifice either an extra batsman or an extra bowler. It limits your options and shows unclear thinking.
In the Test series against Australia, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja each played just one Test in the first three matches. This rotating door policy suggests the coach does not know his best team.
The Way Forward
Something has to give. Indian cricket cannot move forward with this level of dysfunction. The selectors need to act decisively and make a change.
Gambhir has been in the job for less than a year, but the damage is already severe. Yes, coaches need time. But they also need to show they can unite a team, communicate with players, and make sensible selections. Gambhir’s stubborn and confrontational approach has failed on all three counts.
The current situation helps nobody. If the BCCI wants a youth policy, they need a coach who can manage that transition smoothly while keeping senior players on board. If they want to win now with the seniors, they need a coach those players trust and respect.
Right now, they have neither. They have confusion, tension, and a team pulling in different directions.
India just won an ODI series, and that is worth celebrating. But everyone knows the truth. One series win changes nothing. The cracks remain. The tension remains. Until the BCCI acts decisively and makes a change at the top, Indian cricket will continue to drift.
The time for half-measures is over. The selectors must sack Gambhir and bring in a new coach who can restore stability, unity, and clear direction. Only then can Indian cricket truly move forward.
References
1.https://zeenews.india.com/cricket/gautam-gambhir-behind-virat-kohlis-test-retirement-heres-what-you-need-to-know-2900315.html
2.https://thesportstak.com/amp/cricket/story/he-made-sure-that-these-guys-are-not-there-manoj-tiwary-accuses-gautam-gambhir-of-forcing-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-and-ravichandran-ashwin-to-retire-3206607-2025-10-07
