‘Colossal failure’: India turns on heroes with calls to blow the whole thing up

There have been calls to blow the whole thing up with India’s biggest names exposed in brutal fashion back home.

There have been calls for the whole thing to be blown up after India’s brutal Border-Gavaskar Trophy series defeat.

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The series came down to the last day of play on Sunday, but there was no denying the better team won with India’s tour falling apart piece by piece as the Summer progressed.

Dumped captain Rohit Sharma has been the lightning rod for criticism, but the blowtorch is now turning on the country’s biggest stars, including Virat Kohli.

Outside of his classy unbeaten hundred in the first Test in Perth, Kohli made more of an impact with his fiery gestures in the field than he did with the bat.

Reports about a “fragmented” dressing room and leaks about under-pressure coach Gautam Gambhir have not helped — and questions about the future of several veteran players are now being asked, following the 3-1 series defeat.

The reaction from back home has been gloomy at best, following their six-wicket defeat in the final Test in Sydney.

“Trophy lost, questions aplenty, uncertain future,” a Times of India headline read.

“Questions were continuously raised on the future of ageing superstars in that dressing room, which doesn’t look happy anymore,” the paper wrote.

The Indian Express gloomily noted that “the big two were poor”, referring to captain Rohit Sharma and batting superstar Virat Kohli.

Sharma, who has averaged just 10.9 runs in his last eight Tests, stood down — or was dropped — for the final match because of his form.

For Kohli, apart from an unbeaten century in Perth, he was out every other time caught after edging to the wicketkeeper or slips.

India's Virat Kohli was fired up. Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP.

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has now called for the team’s rock star culture to be blown up.

His comments came as former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan also gave Kohli a whack for a lack of willingness to “improve” himself.

Pathan did not hold back when speaking on Star Sports after the SCG defeat.

“We need to end superstar culture, we need team culture,” Pathan said.

“You need to improve yourself and improve the Indian team. There were matches before this series, too, and they had an opportunity to play domestic cricket, but they didn’t. We need to change that culture.”

He added: “When was the last time Virat Kohli played domestic cricket? It has been more than a decade.

“Even Sachin Tendulkar has played domestic cricket more recently, and he has retired.“

We are not degrading Virat Kohli. He has scored a lot of runs and played superbly for India, but you are repeating the same mistake again and again.

“Sunny sir (Sunil Gavaskar) has pointed it out, and he is here at the ground. How long does it take to come to Sunny sir and talk about that mistake? It takes hard work to rectify that mistake, and I didn’t see any of that.”

Gavaskar said the team’s culture needs to be rebuilt with a hard line stance that demands star players make themselves available at all times.

The backlash comes after the team’s recent struggles, including a home Test series defeat against New Zealand.

“Surely questions have to be asked of him (coach Gautam Gambhir) and his coaching staff,” Gavaskar said on Sports Today.

“What were they doing to be in a situation where we are losing, losing, losing? The batting over here has been quite ordinary. So I do believe questions need to be asked about that. Our bowling could have been better as well. We just had two bowlers.”

He went on to suggest some of the current players have not been totally committed to the Test side.

“These next 8-10 days that we have, Indian cricket has to take a good honest look at itself,” he said.

Virat Kohli at the SCG. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

“Most important, the star culture has to go. I do believe you have to give it a complete total commitment. You have a choice. You must be available for Indian cricket every single time. Unless there is a serious medical emergency, you have to be available. It’s your call. If you’re not available, you should not be considered.”

There was some good news out of the Tour.

Star quick Jasprit was simply a revelation.

Standing in as skipper in the final Test, he finished the tour with 32 wickets at an average of 13.06, and was named Man of the Series.

“Superhuman Jasprit Bumrah was let down by colossal batting failures and dubious selections,” said the Times of India.

“The highlight of the series for me... has been watching Jasprit Bumrah bowl,” said veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle, calling the loss a “fair result”.

“It will be one of the highlights of my media career.” Bumrah suffered a back niggle on Saturday and went for scans, and was ultimately forced to watch from the sidelines.

“Brave fightback by India, but Bumrah’s absence was too big a loss to overcome,” Indian cricket journalist Ayaz Memon wrote on social media.

Veteran Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar said it was a “commendable performance”, but reserved his praise for Bumrah.

“Jas is just the best in the world!” he wrote on social media.

— with AFP

Originally published as ‘Colossal failure’: India turns on heroes with calls to blow the whole thing up