Ravi Shastri Blames Lack of Team Effort for India’s Losses Against South Africa
Former coach blasts players and head for shocking SA collapses.
India's whitewash in the home Test series against South Africa, followed by a stunning ODI defeat, has ignited fierce criticism from Ravi Shastri, who pinpointed a lack of collective effort as the core reason behind Gautam Gambhir's team's unraveling. In a podcast teaser released by Prabhat Khabar, Shastri declared, "We lost to Team South Africa, not to one player. They played as a team. Hum kaha khela?" The remark underscores India's disjointed performances across formats.
The Test debacle saw India crumble in Kolkata, failing to chase 124 runs, before a catastrophic 408-run loss in Guwahati—the largest margin in their history. In the ODI leg, despite posting a formidable 358/5 in the second match at Raipur on Wednesday, South Africa chased it down in 49.2 overs to level the series 1-1. With the decider set for Saturday in Visakhapatnam, Shastri highlighted the baffling batting collapse in Guwahati, where India slid from 100/1 to 130/7 against spin.
Shastri, baffled by the top-order's capitulation on turning tracks, insisted the team possesses ample talent and familiarity with home conditions. "This team is not that bad; they have enough talent. You have played spin since childhood," he emphasized, placing responsibility squarely on the players for failing to adapt despite their pedigree.
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When pressed on whether he was shielding head coach Gautam Gambhir amid mounting pressure, Shastri was unequivocal in his rebuke. "I'm not protecting him. 100 per cent he is responsible too. If this had happened when I was the coach, I would have taken the first responsibility—but I would not have spared the players in the team meeting," Shastri stated, drawing from his own tenure to underscore shared accountability.
As India grapples with back-to-back home defeats and the specter of an ODI series loss, Shastri's candid assessment has amplified calls for introspection within the setup. With Gambhir's aggressive style under scrutiny, the final ODI represents a critical opportunity to salvage pride and demonstrate the unity that has eluded the side thus far.
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