BCCI secretary blames ‘Kohli, Rohit, Ashwin’ factor for India’s Test struggles, reveals Gautam Gambhir’s fate

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Devajit Saikia, has finally opened up on the struggles of the India National Cricket Team in the home Test matches.

Devajit Saikia mentioned the Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma-Ravichandran Ashwin factor behind India's struggles, and he also revealed the future of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the team.

I am not privy to the developments in the CAB - BCCI Secretary

India are going through their worst phase in the history of Test cricket as they have suffered utter humiliation at home in the last 12 months, under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir.

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Team India, last year, faced a 0-3 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in the home Test series, and now they have suffered a 0-2 clean sweep against South Africa.

Both these results came under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir and captains Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, with the fans putting the entire blame on the head coach.

When India lost to New Zealand last year, it severely dented their chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship final, and eventually, they missed out, while the loss against the Proteas has dropped them to the fifth spot on the WTC Standings.

Pitches also came under scrutiny in the recently concluded Test series between India and South Africa, as an awful bowling-friendly track was dished out for the Kolkata Test, but after the loss, there was a change in strategy, and in Guwahati, a good Test pitch was prepared.

In an interaction with the Times of India, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia was asked about the pitches for both games, and he said:

"I am not privy to the developments in CAB and Eden Gardens. But whatever is done in Barsapara is according to BCCI chief curator Asish Bhowmick, who oversaw the ground as well as the wickets. I think the curating team deserves full credit for presenting such a wonderful wicket. I have heard experts saying this is a perfect wicket for Test cricket."

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia gives a lifeline to Gautam Gambhir with a "knee-jerk reactions" statement

Following India's home Test series losses, fans and experts have demanded Gautam Gambhir's sacking as Test head coach, but BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has made it clear that they won't make any knee-jerk reactions, as winning and losing are part and parcel of the game. He said:

"BCCI doesn’t take knee-jerk reactions. We are going on as per our long-term plan. Winning or losing is a part of the game. We don’t make changes every now and then. If any change is required, we take a call at the end of that particular period."

Meanwhile, Devajit Saikia urged the Indian cricketers not to put too much emphasis on pitches and be well prepared to adapt to different conditions. He said:

"The players must adjust to the weather, the overall conditions, and the composition of the soil as well as the length of the grass on a pitch. A Test cricketer is expected to adapt to any kind of wicket. If you look at the batting of Dilip Vengsarkar or Sunil Gavaskar in the past, they used different techniques for playing at home or in different conditions in countries like the West Indies, England, South Africa, or Australia.

"Everything is variable except the player, and he or she should adapt to the conditions. That is what the game is all about. That is the beauty of Test cricket."

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, left Test cricket - BCCI Secretary

Devajit Saikia further said that the Indian Test team is going through a transition phase following the retirements of Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, and they will need some time to bounce back. He stated:

"You have to consider vital things. One is that three seasoned cricketers — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin — left Test cricket. New players are coming into the set-up. So, at present, the Indian team is going through a transition. It will take some time before we reclaim our position as the No. 1 Test team in the world."

Also Read: Shubman Gill breaks silence on India’s home Test series defeat under Rishabh Pant