“All under control” in the dressing room, says embattled Gambhir on the eve of the 5th test in Sydney tomorrow.
“All under control” is what India head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated as reports emerge about unrest and mutiny in the dressing room.
According to a source, Gambhir had grown impatient with India’s performance in Australia in the days leading up to the Test match in Sydney in the new year.
“I don’t think I need to answer to any reports,” Gambhir said on the eve of the fifth Test. “There are some honest words. That’s all I can say. Honesty is extremely important if you want to go on and achieve some great things.”
Gambhir was “extremely, extremely confident” though that India could get the win that they need in Sydney to draw the series and retain the trophy. “If someone had said 40-45 days ago that we would be in this situation, that we can come to Sydney and draw this series, it’s a good position to be in. And I don’t think so that anything is out of control.
“When you come to a Test like this, it’s not that batting didn’t do well or bowling didn’t do well. If batting and bowling hadn’t done well, we wouldn’t have won a Test match or we wouldn’t have been 2-1 down. We could have been in a worse situation. So, as I said, I don’t think so that anything is worrisome.
“We know we’ve got the skill set. We’ve got the individuals. We’ve got everything in that dressing room that can win a Test match here. Not only here, probably go on to do some unbelievable things in the future as well.”
A handful of India’s veteran players are struggling: Gambhir will not clarify whether Rohit Sharma would play on Friday. In Australia, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant have both struggled.
“First of all, all the individuals, all the individuals know which area they have to work in,” Gambhir said. “And it’s not like I’m talking about individuals here. Because ultimately, you win as a team and lose as a team. And when you’re playing for your country, everyone tries to contribute their maximum. So, that’s important.
“And it’s not like the debate between a player and a coach should be known to everybody. It should just be between them. You [the outsiders] just see the results. And, fortunately or unfortunately, this sport is known only for the results. But the conversations between the individuals and the dressing room, they should stay there. “All under control”