Former Indian selector Sunil Joshi backed head coach Gautam Gambhir by calling on fans and experts not to judge him after only a handful of
games as well. Gambhir took over the reins at the end of July and has experienced a poor start to his tenure. The team lost 0-2 in the ODI series in Sri Lanka, followed by the 0-3 home Test series whitewash in the recently concluded series against New Zealand as well. The result broke India’s almost 12-year unbeaten home streak in Tests and witnessed them suffering a whitewash for the first time in a home Test series since 2000 as well.

In an interview with TOI, Joshi said, “Knowing Gautam Gambhir, he is a fighting cricketer and we know his commitment towards the game or towards the team. No coach will ever want to be on the wrong side of a result. We need to give him time. Let’s now judge by the two series we have seen, just five Test matches. Of course, on home soil, we have lost. I am sure he will also be disappointed with the way the Test matches have gone, but don’t judge his acumen or his commitment. He is a fighter and he will come out successful. I know that. We have to give time to them (Gambhir and his coaching staff) to settle down. After two years, the results will be in front of us. Then we can judge.”

However, Sunil Joshi added that Team India would be under pressure as they are visiting Australia. Team India will play against Australia down under in five much-anticipated Tests, starting in Perth on November 22.

“We won the last two series in Australia. That is something we need to factor, but do not underestimate Australia because we won the last two series. Winning is not impossible, it’s quite possible. We do have the bowling options and batsmen who can score runs. Take one Test match at a time and focus on the process part more than the results part. The Australians know that India has lost a Test series 3-nil. The pressure is always more on the visiting team. So we need to be prepared to play absolute hard cricket,” Sunil Joshi concluded.