Gautam Gambhir faces fresh allegations amid India’s Test turmoil

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir continues to face a barrage of criticism, with each passing day bringing a new wave of scrutiny following India’s 0-2 Test series defeat to South Africa at home. Since taking over as head coach, Gambhir has found himself at the centre of controversy, becoming an easy target for fans and former players alike. 

Adding to the turmoil, three of India’s biggest Test icons – Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli – walked away from the format within a span of six months. Ashwin retired after the drawn Brisbane Test in December, followed by Rohit and Kohli in May. Even months later, many ardent fans of the duo believe Gambhir’s approach pushed them away from red-ball cricket. While no one had explicitly blamed him until now, former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has publicly accused the head coach of influencing Ashwin’s decision to retire.

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According to Tiwary, Gambhir eroded Ashwin’s confidence by drafting Washington Sundar into the squad from outside, a move that the former cricketer claims clearly signalled a lack of trust. “You made Ashwin insecure just by bringing Washington Sundar from outside the squad. It's a clear indication that you no longer trust Ashwin. In my opinion, it made him uncomfortable, and that's why he retired in Australia,” Tiwary said in a recent interview.

Tiwary also commented on the abrupt retirements of Rohit and Kohli, both of whom stepped away from Test cricket with only a month left before the England tour. Rohit started 2024 with two centuries against England at home but saw his form collapse, particularly in Australia, where he managed just 31 runs in three Tests. Kohli’s departure was even more unexpected—despite scoring a century in Perth, he seemed poised for what could have been his last tour of England at 36.

Although Tiwary did not delve deeply into their retirements, he hinted at the atmosphere within the team as a decisive factor. “Obviously, both Rohit and Virat wanted to play Test cricket, but unfortunately, the scenario was such they themselves said goodbye to that. Things like these never make a player feel settled in the squad,” he remarked.