NEW DELHI: Former India opener Aakash Chopra has labelled a report claiming that the BCCI will appoint separate red and white-ball coaches if India underperform in Border-Gavaskar Trophy as an ‘absolute’ rumour, putting his weight behind an under-fire head coach Gautam Gambhir.
After India’s shock 3-0 series whitewash to New Zealand at home, an unhappy BCCI reportedly had a six-hour long meeting with the team’s think-tank to discuss the debacle.
Soon after that, a report had claimed that the BCCI will consider separate coaches across formats if India don’t do well in Australia.
Chopra said that Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma should be held accountable for the shock defeat but with the head coach only three months into the job, the change would be too soon.
“I feel it is an absolute rumour. This news seems absolutely baseless that if Team India doesn’t perform well in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, then change the coach. Have different coaches for different formats. I’d say it’s a little too soon. I see this rumour being floated around with malicious intent. Gambhir has just been made the head coach. It does not happen like this that if players are not performing, fire the coach. This is not the way. I do not agree with this thinking at all. I am discarding this kind of report,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
क्या Gambhir को BCCI ने दिया ultimatum? | #AakashVani
Since Gambhir took over from Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup triumph, India won the T20 series but lost the ODI series in Sri Lanka.
They then won both Tests and T20 series against Bangladesh at home. After Bangladesh, the team had a stunning whitewash against the BlackCaps, losing Tests in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai.
Chopra said that Gambhir was given everything he asked for and when results do not go your way, questions will obviously be raised.
“Whatever Gautam asked for, the BCCI gave him. Publicly, Gautam had said in the past that Team India should have Indian coaches but when he asked for Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel, the board agreed. When Gautam asked for senior players in Sri Lanka, the board said yes to it. Liberty was given in making pitches as well. When so much happens, then accountability is obvious,” Chopra explained.
While the Suryakumar Yadav-led T20I side is currently leading the series in South Africa 1-0, India’s biggest challenge of the year, the tour of Australia commences from November 22.
The first Test will take place in Perth followed by four matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.