Everyone has responsibility, I cannot say just batters have let us down: Gautam Gambhir
Mumbai (PTI): India head coach Gautam Gambhir doesn't want to blame the batters only for the debacle against the visiting New Zealand side, saying that every player has the responsibility towards the team.
India crashed to their first Test series defeat at home in 12 years after losing the second Test by 113 runs in Pune on October 26. The hosts had lost the first Test by eight wickets in Bengaluru. In three of the four innings, the team totals were 46, 156 and 245 with batters struggling against both swing and spin.
"Everyone has the responsibility, I cannot say just the batters have let us down," Gambhir said at the press conference ahead of the third Test here from Friday.
He also ruled out bringing new players for the final Test.
"We are not in a situation where can think of that (giving chance to players who have not played)," Gambhir doused the speculations of an imminent debut being handed to Harshit Rana as reported in some quarters.
"Harshit Rana is not part of the squad. He has just come here to prepare for the Australia tour, Abhishek (Nayar) made it clear yesterday. IPL retention has nothing to be spoken about, we have a Test match here.
"Everyone is available for selection, we will take a call tomorrow."
Gambhir admitted that the Test series defeat hurt the team but said it should spur the team to do better in future.
"I am not going to sugarcoat that it is hurting. It should hurt and that will make us better. What is wrong in being in this position?
"I am sure this will push the youngsters to be better cricketers. If we have results like Kanpur, might as well have results like this and keep moving forward," said Gambhir.
He said the batters should be able to adapt to the situations of the game and perform accordingly.
"Test cricket should be played like Test cricket. If we have to get 400 runs inside a day’s play we should be able to get it. For me it is about playing the sessions as well. If we play 4.5 sessions we will have a lot of runs on board.
"A complete cricketer is one who can adapt successfully. Not just being able to hit the stands but also rotate strike successfully," he said.
Talking about the defensive technique of batters being impacted by T20 cricket, Gambhir said, "The more the T20 cricket is played (around the world), the more the people will struggle in defending.
"But the most successful players irrespective of the formats always had strong defence. We need to keep telling people the importance of defence and we are working hard on it and we will see results in future."
Asked about the Wankhede Stadium pitch around which there has been a lot of speculation, he said, "It is just a good wicket. Very difficult for anyone to judge before both teams have batted on it."
On his journey at the helm of affairs so far, Gambhir said, "I never expected a very easy run for me. I know that we lost in Sri Lanka and against NZ and it is not a good place to be. All we can do is keep working hard and we will try winning every game that we play to represent the country."
He stressed on the need for some empathy while dealing with players under pressure.
"I realise its a complete different thing when you were playing and now as a coach, need to put your arm around the players."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
AAP activists detained during Mumbai protest against Raghav Chadha
_vb_69.jpeg)
Mumbai (PTI): Police on Sunday detained some Aam Aadmi Party activists in Mumbai after they staged a demonstration against Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha, who has crossed over to the BJP, in Khar area.
Aam Aadmi Party's Mumbai unit president Preeti Sharma Menon claimed the police prevented AAP workers from protesting peacefully against "traitor" Chadha and detained local leader Ruben Mascharanhas.
A Khar Police official confirmed that Mascharanhas and some other activists have been taken to the police station, without elaborating.
"@CPMumbaiPolice @mumbaipolice has no other work but to guard Raghav Chaddha’s Mumbai residence. @aapmumbai volunteers were prevented from protesting peacefully against the GADDAR. Ruben has been detained at the Khar Police Station. But BJP is allowed to block roads at their whim," Menon stated.
The AAP's Mumbai unit had planned a protest in the Khar area against Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs of the party who recently joined the BJP.
"Without any detention order or any written communication, I have been taken to the Khar Police Station. Why is @MumbaiPolice so scared of @AAPMumbai's peaceful protest against 'Gaddar' Raghav Chaddha and Sandeep Pathak? We are @ArvindKejriwal's soldiers, we are not going to be cowed down," Mascharanhas said in another post.
The AAP suffered a jolt on Friday when seven of its Rajya Sabha members, including Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, quit the party, with Chadha saying all of them have merged with the BJP, asserting that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values and core morals.
VIDEO | Mumbai: AAP workers protest outside Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha’s residence.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 26, 2026
On Friday, the AAP suffered a jolt when seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikram Sahni and Swati Maliwal quit and merged… pic.twitter.com/GWKCSvDrOJ
