Turmoil has erupted in the Indian cricket team’s dressing room following their 184-run defeat against Australia in the fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, visibly exasperated by the team’s underperformance, has reportedly issued an ultimatum to the players, warning that those who fail to align with his strategies will face the axe.

According to The Indian Express, Gambhir addressed the team after the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), expressing his frustration with their repeated failures. “Bahut ho gaya (I’ve had enough),” he reportedly said, criticizing players for prioritizing their “natural game” over the team’s game plan. Gambhir also indicated a shift in his approach, stating that he will now dictate the style of play and hold players accountable for deviating from his directives.

This stern stance comes on the heels of India’s continued batting collapses, a pattern seen since their 0-3 defeat in the home series against New Zealand earlier this year.

India had a chance to save the match on the fifth day, thanks to a resilient partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant after an early top-order failure. However, Pant’s aggressive approach against part-timer Travis Head backfired, resulting in a crucial dismissal that sparked another collapse. India crumbled to 155 all out, handing Australia a 2-1 lead in the series.

Captain Rohit Sharma’s continued struggle with the bat has drawn significant criticism, as has former skipper Virat Kohli’s vulnerability outside the off-stump. These persistent issues have amplified concerns over India’s batting order, which has failed to deliver consistently throughout the series.

Gambhir’s decision to clamp down on the players’ approach marks a significant shift from his earlier strategy of granting them freedom. He has reportedly told the team that the leniency of the past six months is over and that performances will dictate their place in the playing XI.

With the series now beyond Australia’s reach, India has one last chance to salvage pride and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The fifth and final Test is scheduled to begin in Sydney on January 3.

The road ahead for India is steep, but the clash in Sydney will determine whether Gambhir’s tough-love approach can yield results or further deepen the chaos within the team.