'Would not have spared players in team meeting'; Former Indian coach responds

NEW DELHI: Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir is feeling the heat over the team’s back-to-back poor performances. On the other hand, there are also reports that Gambhir is not on the best of terms with senior players in the squad. In the five Test series that India played since Gambhir took over as coach, India has won only one, against the West Indies.

While India lost against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the series against England ended in a draw. Now, Ravi Shastri, legendary Indian cricketer and former Indian coach, opined that the players should have taken more responsibility in the Test against South Africa. Shastri made his stand clear through a podcast released by Prabhat Khabar.

"What really happened in Guwahati? From a good position of one wicket for 100, we suddenly collapsed to seven wickets for 130. With such talented players, it was a shocking fall in standards. The players have to take responsibility.

I am not defending Gambhir. He is 100 per cent responsible for the current shoddy performances. If that match had been during my coaching period, I would be the first to take responsibility. But in the team meeting, I would not have spared the players for their performance," he said.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has convened a meeting with coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and other key members of the board. Although Gambhir's position as the team's coach is currently secure, the board expressed concern about the upcomign matches.