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'Need Proper Management': Yograj Singh Blames Gambhir For Kohli's BGT Failure

Yograj Singh lashed out on Gambhir's lack of guidance to Kohli (Source: IANS, AP Photos, @balliawalebaba/X.com)Yograj Singh lashed out on Gambhir's lack of guidance to Kohli (Source: IANS, AP Photos, @balliawalebaba/X.com)

India's quest to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) took an unexpected turn as they failed to qualify for it for the first time. Their battle against Australia is no longer just restricted to a particular format; the two heavyweights of the game ensure that every game they play is full of thrills and intense rivalry.

In their recent series against the Aussies, India faltered at every step of the way, particularly regarding their batting line-up. While the bowlers did their best to restrict the home team from putting a massive total on the board, the batters failed to fire their bats effectively. The poor form and performance of the Indian batters has been criticised by many- but one might wonder why stars like Virat Kohli have received a bigger hammer. Perhaps everyone had much more expectations from Kohli since he is known for his power-hitting and ruthless show against the Australians.

Virat Kohli's Struggles In Australia

Former right-arm bowler Yograj Singh might have only played a handful of games for India; however, shedding light on his understanding of the game, he has fired shots at India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's role in Virat Kohli's struggles. Kohli, who only scored 190 runs from the five Test matches, had a common enemy in all his dismissals- an outside-the-off-stump ball.

"The role of a coach becomes a significant question when you are playing for India. When you're an exceptional player representing India, you might not necessarily need coaching in the traditional sense. What you truly need is someone for man management. Sometimes, a player's mind gets blocked; they might not be scoring runs, or they keep getting out. No matter how great a player is, they can't be bigger than the game itself," Singh said.

Did Gambhir Lack In Supporting Rohit-Kohli?

Singh said that the role of a coach becomes significant when playing for the nation. However, when a senior player makes faults, they don't need coaching; instead, they need off-field guidance. He highlighted how Kohli's dismissals had the same pattern and how Gambhir could have helped the Indian superstar bring out his best game.

"Such players need someone to guide them, to say, 'Let's go to the nets and work on this'. For example, Virat Kohli got out many times playing his favourite shot - the right-hand push. That shot works on Indian pitches, in England, and elsewhere. But on certain pitches where the ball bounces and carries more, someone should have told him, 'Virat, don't play this shot'. Just play straight or leave this ball.

"This illustrates the difference between coaching and management. Identifying and pointing out a player's technical fault is coaching. Someone needs to recognise and convey these technical issues to the players. But who will tell Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli? Even they want someone to come and tell them what's going wrong," he added.

While lending his support for the bad form of Indian stars like Rohit Sharma and Kohli, he said that proper management is a must for the team and its players to succeed. He continued:

"I believe what's needed is proper management - someone who understands when a player's mind is blocked, when they're feeling low, and reassures them, saying, 'Don't worry, we're here for you. You'll do it because you're a great player.' Every player faces a downfall, even the greatest ones. It's part of the game." 

Yograj Singh on Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Style

Speaking about head coach Gautam Gambhir's coaching style, Singh added:

"Gambhir is a brilliant cricketer with a brilliant mind. He has the ability to guide the team forward. However, where there's a mistake, he points it out - and rightly so. But to hold the younger players together, proper management is essential."

"Someone needs to tell them, 'Virat, it's no big deal; it happens to everyone'. 'Rohit, don't worry, these phases come and go'. 'Bumrah, you're doing great; just stay focused'. The younger players, especially fast bowlers like Siraj, need to be guided and supported. Someone should stand with them, show them the way, and help them understand the nuances of the game. When players are down, struggling to perform, management becomes that magic wand that lifts them up," Singh concluded.

Meanwhile after Australia defeated the visitors by six wickets in the final Test match of the five-match series, India were eliminated from the WTC final race and hence, became the second team to join South Africa.