India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has reportedly reached his breaking point. The former opener was furious following yet another batting collapse that saw India lose the fourth Test against Australia by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India’s chase of 340 runs fell apart in the final session of Day 5, as they lost seven wickets for just 34 runs, ultimately being bowled out for 155. This defeat handed Australia an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series and effectively ended India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time.
At Tea, India seemed poised for a draw, with Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal weathering the storm in the second session and frustrating the Australian bowlers. However, disaster struck immediately after the break. Australia’s unusual strategy of starting the final session with off-spinners Nathan Lyon and Travis Head working in tandem proved effective. Despite three boundary riders positioned on the on-side, Pant attempted a lofted shot to a half-tracker from Head and was caught at deep mid-wicket by Mitchell Marsh.
Pant’s dismissal triggered a collapse as Australia swiftly dismantled India’s lower middle order within an hour, securing a remarkable win. The shots played by Pant (30), Jaiswal (84), and Virat Kohli (5) were bewildering, especially as India, after the second innings, seemed to be aiming for a draw rather than going for a win. Captain Rohit Sharma also disappointed, falling after getting his eye in with a loose shot off Pat Cummins.
Gambhir was reportedly livid with the way his players had gotten out, with the recurring batting collapses throughout the year contributing to multiple defeats. According to an Indian Express report, Gambhir expressed his frustration in the dressing room, saying, “Enough is enough.”
Gambhir, who had taken over as head coach following India’s T20 World Cup win, has already faced significant challenges in his tenure. India suffered their first ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka in decades, followed by a crushing home defeat to New Zealand, who became the first team to whitewash India at home.
Despite a promising start to the series in Australia, where India won the first Test under Jasprit Bumrah’s leadership (with Rohit Sharma unavailable due to the birth of his second child), the momentum quickly faded. India lost the day-night Test by 10 wickets, and the third Test in Brisbane was saved only by rain.
After the Melbourne defeat, Gambhir reportedly warned the team that enough leeway had been given, and that from now on, players would have to follow his methods or risk being dropped. He reportedly told the squad that while he had allowed them to play their own way for the last six months, it was now time to play according to his predetermined strategy. Players who failed to comply with this directive, he hinted, would be shown the door.
