New Delhi, Nov 30: Former Indian middle-order batsman Ajay Jadeja came to the defense of head coach Gautam Gambhir, criticizing the backlash he has received following India’s 0-3 series defeat to New Zealand. Jadeja deemed the criticism “unfair,” especially considering the brief time Gambhir has been in his new position.
Gambhir, a pivotal player in India’s 2011 World Cup victory, took charge of the national team in July after Rahul Dravid’s tenure concluded. After a strong start in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, India lost the ODI series to the home team, then swept Bangladesh 2-0 in the Test series, only to face a dismal performance against New Zealand, leading to significant scrutiny of Gambhir.
“I believe it’s unfair to judge him at this point. Assessing someone based on their coaching role after such a short time doesn’t make sense,” Jadeja told PTI Videos during an exclusive interview at the FICCI Turf event.
“If you are uncertain about his capabilities, then one performance should not sway your opinion. Rather than judging him now, we should appreciate his role,” added Jadeja, who made a notable impact in ODIs with over 5000 runs in 196 matches.
India rebounded from their dismal showing against New Zealand with an impressive 295-run victory over Australia in the first Border-Gavaskar Test in Perth, which has boosted morale. Jadeja believes it is too soon to evaluate Gambhir’s effectiveness as head coach.
“There are ups and downs in sports. It’s not right to form an opinion about him within six months of his appointment. You knew what you were getting, and he is clear about his methods,” Jadeja explained.
He also expressed optimism about the return of regular Test captain Rohit Sharma for the second Test in Adelaide on December 6 after missing the first match, saying it will enhance the team’s confidence.
“Rohit’s return will undoubtedly bolster India’s morale. He consistently steps up as a leader when challenges arise, and he will continue to inspire as the team progresses,” Jadeja noted.
When asked if KL Rahul and Rohit should switch batting orders in the second Test following Rahul’s strong performance in Perth, Jadeja replied, “I don’t have insights into the team’s current strategy or opinions on batting positions. Rohit has always been valuable to the team, regardless of where he bats.”
Rahul, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, scored 77 runs in the second innings at Perth, aiding India in setting an imposing target of 534 runs. Some analysts have suggested that Rahul should continue to open in Adelaide, while Rohit would be better suited at number three.
