The Indian cricket team is currently facing intense scrutiny following its crushing defeat in the home Test series against South Africa, while this historic loss has not only raised questions about the team's on-field performance but also about its management and strategic direction. In the wake of this significant setback, Virat Kohli's elder brother, Vikas Kohli, took to social media to express. His strong disapproval, implicitly targeting coach Gautam Gambhir and labeling the team's current state as the result of 'bullying' tactics.
A Historic Defeat and Mounting Questions
Under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma, the World Test Champions South Africa have made history by ending their 25-year wait for a Test series victory on Indian soil, while this achievement marks a significant blow to Indian cricket, which prides itself on its formidable home record. In the second Test match played in Guwahati, South Africa comprehensively defeated Team India by a. Record margin of 408 runs, bowling them out for a mere 140 runs on the final day. This stands as India's largest defeat in Test cricket by runs, and with this victory, South Africa completed a 2-0 clean sweep in the two-match Test series, while this is the first time since 2000 that South Africa has won a Test series in India, a fact that has naturally led to widespread questioning of the Indian team's performance and strategic choices.
Vikas Kohli's Fiery Outburst
In the aftermath of this disappointing performance, coach Gautam Gambhir has found himself at the center of criticism from all quarters, while from ordinary fans to former cricketers, questions are being raised about the coach's decisions and methods. Amidst this, Vikas Kohli, Virat Kohli's elder brother, launched a scathing attack on Gambhir through a social media post. Without explicitly naming him, he attributed the team's dire situation to Gambhir's. 'dadagiri' (bullying), sparking a debate about the team's internal affairs and management. This comment comes at a time when the team has suffered one of its worst performances, publicly challenging the team's leadership.
Analysis of a Disastrous Series
Team India lost the Kolkata Test match against South Africa in just two and a half days, an exceptionally short duration for a Test match. This early defeat was a significant blow to the team and immediately exposed its vulnerabilities. Following this, the situation in the Guwahati Test match was equally dire, with the team's chances of victory rapidly diminishing, ultimately leading to another crushing loss. Consequently, Team India is on the verge of losing a second home series within a single year, a statistic that has naturally placed the entire team, along with the head coach, under intense scrutiny. This consistent poor performance could also impact the team's morale and future strategies.
Initial Social Media Criticism and Subsequent Deletion
During this challenging period, Vikas Kohli vented his frustration on social media, attributing the poor results to several decisions. In one social media post, Vikas Kohli criticized the team's mindset, writing, “There was a time when we used to play to win even overseas. Today, we're playing to save Test matches in India. This is what happens when you show bullying and unnecessarily try to change things that are right. ” This comment directly questioned the team's management and the coach's decisions. Although he later deleted this post, the message had already spread widely, highlighting the public's concern and dissatisfaction.
Strategic Flaws and the Ousting of Senior Players
Vikas Kohli didn't stop there; in another post, he blamed the insistence on forcibly removing senior players. He highlighted the difference between Team India's and South Africa's strategies, stating, “Let’s try to understand this. Team India’s strategy – remove senior players. Remove regular batsmen at 3/4/5. Play a bowler at number 3. Play all-rounders. ” This comment was a direct attack on the team selection and batting order. Changes, which, according to him, were a primary reason for the team's poor performance. He questioned the decisions that were altering the team's established structure and composition.
Contrasting Strategies with South Africa
To further clarify his point, Vikas Kohli also mentioned South Africa's strategy. He wrote, “South Africa’s strategy – play a proper Test team. Specialist opener, specialist 3/4/5 batsmen, specialist spinner, specialist fast bowler, and perhaps one all-rounder. ” Through this comparison, he attempted to show that South Africa opted for a balanced and specialist-based team selection, while the Indian team made unnecessary experiments, which negatively impacted their performance, while this comparison raises serious questions about the decisions made by the Indian team's selectors and coach, suggesting a fundamental difference in approach.
The Question of Accountability and Future Concerns
Vikas Kohli further stated that he wants to see Team India win, but questions must be asked about who is responsible for this situation, while this statement reflects his concern for the team and his demand for accountability. He emphasized that beyond just wins and losses, the reasons that led the team to this state should be thoroughly investigated, while although Vikas Kohli later deleted these posts, this isn't the first time he has expressed his objection to the working methods of the Team India management. He has done so before and has been involved in controversies, which indicates underlying discontent within or around the team. This incident further deepens the internal tensions and questions surrounding the strategic direction of Indian cricket.
