Former Player Criticizes Gambhir After India's Test Loss

The loss for India in the first Test against South Africa has raised several questions, with many fans and former players pointing fingers at the head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Why is India failing to perform well in their home conditions? It seems like Gambhir is getting the blame for the tactical choices. On a Kolkata pitch that was so helpful for spinners, India couldn't chase 124 runs. The same pitch saw South Africa being dismissed for 93 runs as India's spinners wreaked havoc. Following the defeat, Gambhir believed that the pitch wasn't a factor in this defeat, while the batters didn't apply themselves. Former cricketer Manoj Tiwary begs to differ.

Tiwary Responds to Comments from Gambhir

Tiwary said that India lost the match because proper coaching on how to play spin was not given to the players. He also claimed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma wanted to carry on in Test cricket but were pushed toward retirement by pressure from the team's supposed "transition phase". He felt that there was no need for a transition phase in Indian cricket because many talented domestic players are already awaiting opportunities. He said it is not right to blame the batters for their defeat.

Coaching Responsibility and Spin Preparation

Tiwary said the onus is on the coaching staff to prepare players for spin conditions. He asked why the team was blamed for defensive technique, given how the game went. He asked whether or not there was proper training before the Test. He reminded that during his playing days, Gambhir was good and skillful against spin, and hence he should guide the team more effectively.