Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed a critical opinion of the team’s recent ODI series loss to Australia, saying that “commendable” performances in a losing cause should “never” be celebrated.
While he can be delighted for those that achieve, Gambhir stated in an interview with “bcci.tv” that one should never lose sight of the larger picture—in this case, a series loss.
Following the IPL, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to competitive cricket during the ODI series in Australia. Rohit’s century in the third ODI, which India won to prevent a whitewash, and his 73-run innings in the second game, which India lost, earned him the title of player of the series.
Following back-to-back ducks in the first two games, Kohli scored 74 runs in the last game. Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer both came up with impressive individual performances during the series.
However, neither Gambhir nor the question posed to him specifically mentioned any individuals.
“…I’ve always been a believer that it’s not about the individual performances. I can be very happy with the individual performances, and I will always remain happy with individual performances.
“But ultimately it’s the loss of one day’s series, that’s the bottom line and I can never celebrate a series loss as a coach,” he asserted.
Due to Rohit and Kohli’s retirement from both Tests and T20 Internationals, fans have been quite interested in their few ODI performances.
“As a player I can appreciate individuals, but as a coach I think it is my moral responsibility that we as a nation and we as individuals should never, never celebrate a series loss,” Gambhir said.
After the one-dayers, India won the five-match T20 International series 2-1, and Gambhir believed there was much to learn from that victory as well.
“Ultimately we are representing the country, yes T20 series was different, we won the series, a lot of positives, but a lot of learning as well,” he said.
