Sunil Gavaskar defended India head coach Gautam Gambhir after the Test series loss to South Africa, saying coaches can only prepare teams but players must deliver. R Ashwin also backed Gambhir, stressing players should take responsibility instead of blaming the coach

New Delhi: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has come out in defence of embattled head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying the coach can only prepare the team and it is the players who have to deliver on the field.

Gambhir has faced scathing criticism following India’s massive 408-run loss to South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati, which helped the visitors sweep the two-match series.

This was India’s third Test series defeat under Gambhir. In the 16 months he has been at the helm, India have lost to New Zealand at home 0-3, away to Australia 1-3, and now to the Proteas.

“He’s a coach. The coach can prepare a team. The coach can tell, you know, a guy with his experience. But it is out there in the middle that the players have to deliver,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Gavaskar added that Gambhir is the same coach who helped India win the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup, and now critics were baying for his blood after the home series loss.

“Now, to those who are asking for him to be held accountable, my counter-question is: what did you do when India won the Champions Trophy under him? What did you do when India won the Asia Cup under him?

“Did you say then — you are asking for a sacking now — did you say then that he should be given an extended contract, a contract for life for one-day cricket and for T20 cricket? You did not say that. It is only when a team does not do well that you look at the coach,” Gavaskar said.

The legendary batter cited the example of New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who is England’s all-format coach, saying there was nothing wrong with Gambhir carrying on as head coach in all forms of the game.

“You have coaches, for example, Brendon McCullum is a coach for all three formats for England. A lot of countries have a coach who is there for all formats. But we tend to only look and point a finger at somebody when the team has lost.

“You are not prepared to give him credit. If you are not prepared to give him credit for the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup win, then please tell me why you want to blame him for the team out there on that 22-yard strip not doing well. Why are you blaming him?” Gavaskar asked.

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin also defended Gambhir, saying it is not right to call for his sacking when players have not shouldered enough responsibility.