File Pic: Ravichandran Ashwin and Gautam Gambhir NEW DELHI: Former India pacer R Ashwin has come to the defense of head coach Gautam Gambhir after India’s 0-2 home Test series defeat to South Africa, warning against what he called a growing urge to “find someone to blame” after heavy losses. India were comprehensively beaten in the two-Test series, culminating in a record 408-run defeat in Guwahati, prompting sharp criticism of Gambhir’s plans and his strategy of promoting all-rounders, which some said had upset the team’s balance.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!But Ashwin rejected calls to sack the coach and said Gambhir, who is under contract until 2027, should not be considered the man of the fall. “Why do we do this? It’s a sport. It can’t be that easy to manage a team. And yes, it hurts too. We have to understand that. It can be nice to get someone out, but it shouldn’t be like that,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash ki Baat.
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He added that mistakes are inevitable but do not justify a witch hunt. “Gautam is not my relative. I could also point out 10 mistakes. Yes, mistakes happen… but when they cost you, they become expensive. Anyone can make them.”With India’s formidable home record, Ashwin acknowledged that accountability must be sought but insisted that the focus must not be solely on the coach. “We want to ask for accountability. It’s easy because there’s a lot to be gained and a lot of money in Indian cricket. So many people are ready to take up the job. But a coach can’t pick up the bat and go play.”
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Ashwin emphasized that the failure must be borne by the players, not just the management. “Put yourself in the shoes of a coach. You can say that a player needs continuity and that there has been rotation – well, I agree. But the ability to play and perform is the player’s responsibility.”The former off-spinner said he “didn’t see enough responsibility taken by enough players” to justify blaming Gambhir. “The decision-making can always be better, no doubt. But personally, I don’t like this individual attack because we are always looking for someone to blame.”
