“I really haven’t seen that in the Indian team” - Former Australia player calls out Gautam Gambhir’s contradictory statements in BGT 2024-25

Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has questioned Gautam Gambhir's statement where he backed India to play both attacking and defensive cricket in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 53-year-old pointed out that the tourists failed to save the fourth Test in Melbourne, where they needed to bat less than three sessions.

The Men in Blue were bundled out for 155 in 79.1 overs, losing the game by 184 runs. The tourists then showed no signs of intent with the bat in the fifth Test in Sydney, barring Rishabh Pant's attacking knock in the second essay.

Brad Hogg said on his YouTube channel:

"The one thing that Gautam Gambhir said earlier on to that he wants his players to be adaptable, have that aggressive brand of cricket but when they have got to save the Test match, they’ve got their defensive game as well. And I really haven’t seen that in the Indian team do that as we’ve gone forward."

Ahead of the five-match series, Gambhir had said (via India Today):

"We want to be the team that can score 400 runs in a day and can bat for 2 days to save a Test match as well. And that is the growth and adaptability that we are looking for. And that is what Test cricket is really. We have batters in the dressing room who can do both."

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"They will be under pressure moving forward" - Brad Hogg on Gautam Gambhir and his aides ahead of 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

Brad Hogg said that the coaching unit will now be under pressure to deliver as Gautam Gambhir and company have now lost three big series in a row, two Test series against New Zealand and Australia and an ODI series in Sri Lanka.

He further questioned the selectors while pointing out how India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's form affected India throughout that phase.

The cricketer-turned-commentator said in the same interaction:

"You’ve got to look after the selection panel as well. Who was selecting the team? Who was selecting the squads in those particular scenarios? What is the long-term plan as well for India? But India looked like they are gonna get to the World Test Championship final, they didn’t. They have had a terrible last couple of months. So, I think if you are looking at the coaching staff, they will be under pressure moving forward."

Hogg continued:

"So, is it Gautam Gambhir that’s got to go or a new head coach brings in his own coaching staff or is it the assistant coaches that have to go as well. But I think through that particular period, you’ve got Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in there as well. The two leaders that really have not been on the top of their game as well. So, there are a number of variables there which you could look out for, which has been the demise of India at the Test level over the particular period."

"But for me, you’ve got to look at who is selecting the team. If Gautam Gambhir is part of that well, then questions do have to be asked. I think they definitely are under pressure," he added.

Notably, Rohit scored 91 and 31 runs against the Kiwis and Australia, respectively. Meanwhile, Kohli returned with 93 and 190 runs in the two series.

Gautam Gambhir has helped India complete two clean sweeps against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka under Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy in T20Is.