Sitanshu Kotak (right) is the assistant coach of Team India.Image Credit source: PTI

Team India, which surrendered to South Africa in the Kolkata Test match in just two and a half days, is constantly surrounded by criticism. The batsmen of the team have to listen to a lot of abuses. But the biggest target is head coach Gautam Gambhir, after taking over the responsibility of Team India, the Indian team has suffered its fourth defeat at home within a year. In particular, some of his decisions have come under question. In such a situation, his assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak has come to the defense of Gautam Gambhir, but while supporting Gambhir, he made a shocking statement and put the entire blame on the players.

Kotak was asked many questions at Team India's press conference two days before the second Test match starting on November 22 in Guwahati. During this time, when it came to the defeat in the Kolkata Test, he immediately jumped in support of coach Gambhir. There is nothing surprising in this because as an assistant coach, it was expected from him that he would defend the coach and refute the criticism. But hardly anyone would have thought that in an attempt to defend the coach, he would blame the players themselves.

'People running agenda against Gambhir'

Questioning Gambhir's critics, Kotak said, "Everyone is doing Gautam Gambhir...Gautam Gambhir. I am saying this because I am part of the staff and I feel bad. This is not the right way. Maybe some people will have their own agenda. All the best to them but this is very wrong." Kotak did not stop here and he even roped in the players. Putting the batsmen and bowlers in the dock, he said, “Nobody is saying that this batsman did this, that bowler did that or we could have done something different in batting.”

Dravid-Shastri also had to listen to criticism

This statement of Sitanshu Kotak has surprised everyone because this is not the first time when a coach is facing criticism. Earlier, world cricket's legendary batsman and experienced coach like Rahul Dravid also had to face criticism due to many decisions during his tenure with Team India. Whereas before him, Ravi Shastri had to hear good and bad many times during his long tenure and Gautam Gambhir himself was also included among those who criticized him.