India ended its 2024/25 season on a sour note, with an Australian victory handing them their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss in a decade. Such was the dismal run of performances that included the rare loss of an ODI series to Sri Lanka, after a gap of 1997, and an embarrassing whitewash to New Zealand in the home country. All those setbacks have now forced former spinner Harbhajan Singh to seek changes at the Indian cricketing end and ask the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to bid goodbye to the “superstar culture” that has started dominating Indian cricket.
Gautam Gambhir Era Filled With Disappointments
All the above losses occurred after Gautam Gambhir had taken over from Rahul Dravid, who ended his stint by ensuring victory for his team in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The underwhelming performance of top-order batters, comprising the captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli, has been one of the most significant factors behind India’s woes, especially in Test cricket. Rohit himself went to the extent of resting for the last Test against Australia.
Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar Slams ‘Star Culture’ In Indian Cricket, Says ‘Time To Stop Pampering…’
Current Form Of Players Should Not Be Overlooked
Harbhajan pointed out that players need to play on current form rather than past glory for entry into the team. India lost the series 3-1, and this result well reflected the course of the series. Though Australia had moments of dominance, they were largely on the backfoot in most of the matches, except for their commanding 295-run win in the opening Test in Perth.
What Happened To India After Rahul Dravid’s Tenure Ended?
“In the past six months, we lost to Sri Lanka, a series whitewash against New Zealand and now a 3-1 defeat in Australia. Everything was fine till Rahul Dravid was there. India won the World Cup, and everything was fine. But what happened suddenly?” Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel
“India Should Leave Behind Superstar Attitude”
“Every player has a reputation. If this is the thing, then add Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble or those who have been India’s biggest match-winners. BCCI and selectors should take hold. India should leave behind the superstar attitude,” he said.
Youngsters Should Be Given More Chances
“Abhimanyu Easwaran was taken on tour, but he didn’t play. He can become a player for India if he is given the opportunity. Sarfaraz is the same case. Now, the England tour lies ahead. The player who performs should go there. You should not pick players on reputation,” he added.
India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss ended its 10-year dominance and highlighted the need to make important changes.
