Gautam Gambhir under fire! Ex-India Star Slams Team Management

Gautam Gambhir controversy continues to make headlines on platforms like Winexchange with many comments and opinions surrounding it. Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also suggested there could have been a different approach.

Before the third ODI against South Africa in Vizag, Ashwin said that Gautam Gambhir needs to do justice. This demand emanates from the deeper dissatisfaction with how the franchise has been handled under the Adam Gilchrist-Gambhir era.

This argument is taking place at a time when India’s recent results have faced sharp criticism. Several insist that, beyond the inconsistency of results, the primary problem is a lack of strategy.

The Washington Sundar Saga: Symbol of Confusion

The short but turbulent ODI series has magnified the struggle. Washington Sundar has even had uncertainty over his batting position in different games. In the first ODI, he batted at No. 5 and was sent down to No. 6 in the second.

The evidence is there in the results: 13 and 1 with the bat, and a worthless contribution with the ball, seven overs without a wicket. This, for many former players and analysts, is a symptom of something more systemic: that Sundar isn’t being employed in a way that brings out his best side. Ashwin was blunt:

“Once you decide to play Washington Sundar, you must treat him as a bowler who can bat … If he’s just batting and bowling a few overs, he’ll keep searching for who he is.”

Ashwin’s critique highlights why Sundar’s underperformance is not just a personal failure, but a failure of management planning and role clarity. You can follow Winexch for more cricket-oriented blogs like this.

Beyond Sundar: The Bigger Picture

The Sundar episode might be the latest flashpoint, but it is an instance that critics say has dogged India ever since Gambhir took over as head coach. Analysts refer to the lack of stability in playing XI, and the regular chopping and changing, especially at crucial batting positions like No. 3.

The former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane cautioned that this “musical chairs” approach to No. 3 was detrimental to player growth and securing the future. He emphasised that constant chopping and changing rob players of the chance to settle, prepare and grow.

The overall picture appears clear: under Gambhir, the team has lost the bedrock of consistency. Without it, there’s no clear identity for players; no time to settle; no sense of long-term vision. And in high-stakes cricket, that uncertainty can become very dangerous.

Support for Gautam Gambhir controversy

In the midst of rising cries for accountability, voices are defending Gambhir. Ashwin himself expressed that while mistakes have happened, a coach should not bear all the blame. In his show, he argued that outcomes on the field, batters making or missing their shots, bowlers bowling well or poorly, ultimately rest with the players.

The former great himself, Sunil Gavaskar, suggested as much when he said, “the coach can plan strategies, but cannot ensure their implementation”. He pleaded for time, reminding that the Indian team is in transition, has tight schedules and changing roles.

And to many fans and platforms like Winexch, these defences sound hollow when the structural issues are left unaddressed. There’s only so much a coach can be held responsible for, but leading also means offering clarity, stability and direction, particularly during a rebuild.

Conclusion

It isn’t just one letdown of a series, or one all-rounder gone awry. The ongoing saga concerning the Gautam Gambhir controversy says more about what is going on behind the scenes within, concerning team infrastructure, game strategy and long-term vision. A side of India’s stature, with its history, expectations and pressure, can’t dabble in series-long experiments and reactive tactics.

Do you believe in it?’ Some things aren’t luxuries but necessities: consistency and role definition, and believing in players strategically. Lose any one of them or fail to integrate the other successfully, and the performances of your individual players decline while team harmony erodes. 

For a player like Washington Sundar and platforms like Winexchange, however, indecision only slows their form but actually derails their development. For India, the danger is one of cycles of unpredictability and failure.

Moreover, this internal chaos doesn’t occur in a vacuum. It has a bearing on public perception, fan morale and media scrutiny - all of which count a lot in a cricket-mad country like India

FAQ

1. What is so wrong about Washington Sundar?

The criticism is not for his below-par performance alone; Washington Sundar is being singled out. The problem is that the team management has not helped him to find a role.

2. What is Gautam Gambhir’s biggest criticism?

The major criticism is that he has been unable to settle on his playing XI, hasn’t planned long-term and constantly shuffles the batting and playing order. The kind of “hit-and-trial” adopted here has, in a way, disturbed the structure and confidence of the side.

3. Is anyone defending Gambhir?

Yeah, while some, such as former greats, Ashwin and Sunil Gavaskar, have insisted that not everything can be managed by a coach, and players too have to take blame. What’s one series to figure out what you have when the team has gone through a transition, and that was on display?”

4. What impact will this controversy have on Team India in the future?

Absolutely. Consistency or continued uncertainty and ambiguity causes damage to player development, team morale and performance. For a team that is supposed to be quite good, it’s more dangerous when it comes to long-term than short-term success.