The second Test between India and South Africa is set to take place in Guwahati on November 22. Before this match, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has come to Gautam Gambhir's defense, questioning the critique aimed at him.
Kotak is visibly upset by the criticism Gautam Gambhir received after the loss in the first Test against South Africa, suggesting hidden motives may be at play. The 30-run defeat in Kolkata marked India's fourth Test loss on home soil during Gambhir's coaching tenure.
Kotak commented ahead of the second Test on Thursday, saying,
"Gautam Gambhir is being unfairly criticized,"
adding that being part of the staff made him feel bad about the one-sided scrutiny. He stressed this approach is unjust.
He further noted that sometimes criticism is used to push an agenda, stating, "Perhaps some have personal reasons; good luck to them, but it's wrong."
Gambhir also faced criticism for defending the Kolkata Test pitch where India lost despite chasing just 124 runs. He had questioned the batsmen, explaining the turning track caused most problems, asserting that the pitch was precisely what the team management had requested. This statement contradicted the recent remarks by captain Shubman Gill, who expressed a preference for more sporting wickets at home.
Kotak's Argument: Why Not Question Other Players?
Kotak was surprised that no one but Gambhir was being questioned. He remarked,
"No one is asking why this batsman played that way, or this bowler did that. We could have approached batting differently."
He praised Gambhir for openly taking pitch responsibility and avoiding blaming the curator, saying,
"Gautam took full responsibility for the previous match's pitch because he didn't want to blame the curator."
Africa's Superior Performance Acknowledged...
Kotak acknowledged South Africa's superior performance on the same pitch but also highlighted India's shortcomings. He explained, "If we tell a batsman to play aggressively and fast right from the start, it's not fair. We advise our players to strategize and take their time. While playing aggressively from the first ball isn't always optimal, playing busy cricket with the right footwork on such pitches is more beneficial."
The Influence of T20 on Test Techniques...
Kotak believes that the rise of T20 cricket over the past 15 years has changed both technique and mindset of batsmen. He noted, "Nowadays, many players worldwide juggle all three formats effectively, but each requires distinct techniques. In Tests, reliance on footwork is crucial, whereas T20 and power-hitting focus more on quick base formation, which reduces footwork."
