Rahane warns Gambhir to respect senior players amid India’s Test slump

The Story in Brief

Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane said the Test team must regain the patience and fight that marked earlier success, as he reflected on recent struggles in the longest format. Speaking in his first podcast appearance since retiring from international cricket, Rahane noted that while India have won two ICC trophies in white-ball cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir in the last two years, the Test side has suffered setbacks including two home series whitewashes. India sit fifth in the World Test Championship standings and are trying to qualify for the final. Rahane, who last played a Test in 2023, said Test cricket demands character and the ability to survive difficult periods and play out testing sessions. India will begin a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on 15 August. He also pointed to a rapid transition in the Test squad, citing the departures of Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli within six months, and noted that only Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah have played 50 or more Tests.

The Indian Opinion

As an ordinary Indian reader might see it, Rahane’s remarks are a mix of observation and concern rather than an accusation. The article notes India’s white-ball success under Gambhir alongside Test setbacks, but it does not present full evidence that the departure of senior players alone has caused recent losses. Headlines or commentary that frame this as a single-person or single-coach failure would be one-sided. Transition in any team often involves complex causes – form, selection, injuries and scheduling – and the facts here are limited to recent results, player departures and Rahane’s view. A measured response would recognise the value of experience while testing claims against broader performance data before drawing firm conclusions.

Original article: ‘Respect senior players’: Rahane warns Gambhir amid India’s Test struggles (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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