IND vs SA: "People are just…"- India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak defends Gautam Gambhir over defeat in Kolkata test

Sitanshu Kotak said that some people might have an agenda against Gautam Gambhir.

Indian Cricket Team’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has defended head coach Gautam Gambhir following India’s defeat in the first test against South Africa Cricket Team. He feels that everyone is blaming Gambhir for the loss, which is not justified.

Gambhir has faced a lot of criticism following the team’s shocking defeat at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which was India’s fourth test defeat under his coaching stint at home. Last year, India suffered a humiliating 0-3 defeat in a three-match series New Zealand.

In first of the ongoing two-match series between India and South Africa, the visitors crushed Shubman Gill-led side by 30 runs in a low-scoring thriller, which witnessed batters struggling to score runs and bowlers dominating at a tricky pitch at the Eden Gardens. India failed to chase down a 124-run target in the clash and were bowled out for just 93 runs, which came as a big shock for home fans and many former cricketers.

Maybe some individuals have some agendas: Sitanshu Kotak defends Gautam Gambhir

While speaking to the media ahead of the second test in Guwahati, Kotak targeted fans for attacking only Gambhir for India’s defeat in the first game. He feels that people have overlooked others and only slammed Gambhir for the defeat, which seems like an agenda against the head coach.

“One thing I have felt is that people are just saying Gautam Gambhir, Gautam Gambhir, Gautam Gambhir. No one is saying that this batsman did this, this bowler did that, or I could do something different as a batting coach,” Kotak said.

“From the last 30-35 matches India has played, we have lost just two games or so. No one is giving credit for all the games we won. Based on the two matches that we have lost, everyone’s doing ‘Gautam Gambhir, Gautam Gambhir. I am saying this because I am a [member of coaching] staff and I feel bad. That’s not the way [it should be]. Maybe some individuals have some agendas. Good luck to them, but it is very bad,” he added.

The 53-year-old also mentioned that Gambhir took the blame for the defeat on himself to defend the pitch curator. In the press conference after the first test, the Indian head coach reckoned that there were no issues with the pitch and it was prepared according to India’s demands.

“At the press conference after the last match, Gautam took all the blame on himself. He did that because he felt that the blame should not fall on the curator,” he further said.

After India’s defeat, some former cricketers like Cheteshwar Pujara and Sourav Ganguly advised Gambhir to keep the pitch out of discussion in home games. The Eden Gardens pitch was one of the hottest talking points after the first test concluded within three days. Meanwhile, the second test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati will begin on November 22.

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