Scapegoat? Gautam Gambhir's Management Blames IPL For Dismal Test Show : Report

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The slump in India's Test cricket performance, especially after Gautam Gambhir's appointment as head coach, has raised questions about the team's focus and commitment.

After a series of underwhelming performances, including a loss to New Zealand at home and a 1-3 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team management faced scrutiny. This led to discussions about why such a drop in form occurred, especially when India had been dominant in previous years.

The team's failure to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the first time also contributed to the questions surrounding their performance. In response, a member of the team management as per a report by Dainik Jagran offered an unexpected reason for the team's slump-citing the substantial salaries cricketers earn in the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to this view, the high paychecks from the IPL may have led players to lose their focus on Test cricket, considering that IPL rewards are often far greater than those for playing in the longer format.

In an effort to regain discipline and focus, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken some new measures as per reports. One of the key changes is related to the presence of players' families during overseas tours. In the past, several cricketers, such as Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, had their wives accompany them throughout their tours, including the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, following the poor performances, the BCCI has decided that players' families can only stay for a maximum of 14 days during a 45-day overseas tour.

Additionally, there have been changes to the travel arrangements of the players. Previously, some players, including Virat Kohli, were seen traveling separately, which has now been restricted. Going forward, the BCCI has mandated that all players will have to travel by team bus during tours, aiming to foster unity, focus, and discipline among the squad members.

These measures indicate the BCCI's push to refocus players' attention on Test cricket and to address any potential distractions that might have impacted their performance. The ultimate goal appears to be restoring India's dominance in the longest format of the game and ensuring that players are fully committed to all forms of international cricket, especially Test cricket.