It has rarely happened that there is a Test series in Australia and there is not fierce rhetoric or verbal attacks from there. Apparently the situation has not changed this time too. The only difference is that earlier, where not only the former cricketers but also the current players used to talk big, now the players of the Australian team do not say anything special but the tongues of the former players still move at the same speed. Something similar is happening on the Indian team’s tour of Australia. However, another difference is that this time there is no rhetoric about legendary players like captain Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, rather Team India coach Gautam Gambhir is everyone’s target. Former Australian captain Tim Paine has called him the biggest problem of Team India.
Since his cricket playing days, Gautam Gambhir has been known for his combative batting as well as his aggressive attitude. After international cricket, his style as a player and mentor continued in IPL also. Apart from this, even while doing commentary, Gautam Gambhir never missed saying anything, no matter how much he was criticized for it. The situation has not changed even after becoming the head coach of Team India. Before leaving for the Test series, his sharp statement about Ricky Ponting has made a lot of headlines from India to Australia and that is why he has now become the biggest enemy in the eyes of Australian legends.
‘Gambhir is not fit for Team India’
The latest statement has come from former Australia captain Tim Paine, who has described Gambhir’s temperament as the biggest tension for Team India. While talking to SEN Radio, Paine expressed his views about Team India and said that Virat Kohli’s declining form is definitely a matter of concern but in his view, Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli’s batting is not the biggest problem for Team India. Taking aim at Gambhir’s attitude, Paine said that the biggest concern for Team India is coach Gambhir’s (lack of) ability to remain calm under pressure. Penn even said that Gambhir is not the right coach for the Indian team.
‘Ponting will say whatever he wants’
Not only Tim Paine, but the Australian team’s veteran opener Adam Gilchrist, captained by Ponting, also attacked the Indian coach. Ponting had expressed concern about the form of Team India’s star batsman Virat Kohli, in response to which Gambhir had said that Ponting has nothing to do with Team India, rather he should look at the Australian team. In response to this, Ponting had described Gambhir as an angry person. Now Hayden and Gilchrist have also supported Ponting. Gilchrist said during a YouTube show that Ponting has earned the right to speak on whatever topic he wants.