Former India Captain Gavaskar Criticizes England’s 4–1 Ashes Defeat, Labels Team ‘Paper Tigers’

Legendary former India captain Sunil Gavaskar launched a scathing critique of England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia in the 2025-26 series, labeling their performance as that of “paper tigers” and accusing the team of playing “couldn’t-care-less cricket.” In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar expressed little surprise at England’s capitulation, pointing out that the side lost the urn in just 11 days after defeats in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, despite a late consolation win in the final Test at Sydney.

England, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, had initially revitalized their Test cricket with an aggressive “Bazball” approach after McCullum’s appointment in 2022. The strategy brought early successes against New Zealand, India (in a rescheduled Test), and Pakistan. However, Gavaskar argued that the novelty of this fearless style wore off as opponents adapted, particularly when conditions favored swing and seam. He noted that England struggled significantly whenever the ball deviated on non-flat pitches, exposing a lack of adaptability in their batting approach.

Gavaskar took aim at England’s players for refusing to adjust their aggressive mindset even in challenging overseas conditions, attributing this partly to the protective media narrative that often blamed pitches rather than player shortcomings. He criticized the management for tolerating irresponsible shots and failing to instill fear of being dropped, suggesting that the security of central contracts and lucrative T20 leagues had removed the hunger and accountability once associated with Test cricket. “Valuing playing for your country and putting a minimum price of a century on your wicket is something only the great Joe Root does. The others could not be bothered,” he wrote.

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The Ashes campaign was further overshadowed by off-field controversies, including reports of players engaging in binge drinking during matches and frequent casino visits, as well as alleged differences between Stokes and McCullum. Gavaskar contrasted this with the era when losing a Test spot meant a return to low-paying first-class cricket, a stark difference from today’s financial safety nets. He questioned the team’s commitment, asking how many players could honestly say they gave everything—both physically and temperamentally—during the series.

The veteran commentator also took a swipe at the English media for hyping their team despite consistent underperformance in big overseas series, particularly against formidable sides like Australia and India. While acknowledging the difficulty of winning away Test series—citing India’s own losses to New Zealand and South Africa in recent years—Gavaskar concluded that England’s much-celebrated “fearless cricket” had devolved into indifference when the stakes were highest. His blunt assessment has reignited debates about the sustainability of Bazball and the mindset required to succeed in the longest format Down Under.

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