“What can a coach do?” - Ravi Ashwin defends Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir amid sharp criticism

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has defended Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir after India suffered two consecutive Test series defeats at home, against New Zealand and South Africa, respectively.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that a coach cannot pick up the bat and go out to play. However, he added that the head coach’s job is to talk to the players, but it’s up to the players to play and perform on the field.

“We want to ask for responsibility. It’s easy, because in Indian cricket, you know it and I know it, there’s a lot to gain and a lot of money involved. So many people are ready to take the job, and there will always be people putting their hat in the ring. But the fact is, a coach cannot pick up the bat and go out to play. He can only do his job, talk to the players — that’s all,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’

“What can a coach do? I’m asking you a simple question. Put yourself in the coach’s position. You may say a player needs continuity and that there has been a lot of rotation, fine, agreed. But the skill to play and perform is the player’s responsibility. As a player, you must control what is in your control. Decision-making lies with the coach and captain, leave that aside,” he added.

Furthermore, Ashwin also reckoned that though the decision-making could’ve been better from the Indian support staff, he went on to add that the players didn’t take enough responsibility throughout the Test series against South Africa.

“I haven’t seen enough responsibility taken by enough players to say the coach is the problem. It’s a valid point. In Tamil, we say: if you have flour, you can make chapatis or rotis. If you don’t have flour, how will you make rotis? I didn’t see enough from the players’ side to blame decision-making alone. Sure, decision-making can always be better, no doubt. But I personally don’t like this individual attack, because we always look for someone to blame,” the former spinner concluded.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!