Guwahati, Nov 20 (NationPress) India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has expressed cautious optimism regarding the fitness of skipper Shubman Gill, while also staunchly defending head coach Gautam Gambhir amid increasing criticism following India's 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test held in Kolkata.

Gill, who experienced a neck spasm during the initial match and did not participate in training on Thursday, is scheduled to undergo a crucial fitness test on Friday that will decide his availability for the second Test commencing Saturday in Guwahati.

“He is certainly making a good recovery; I met him yesterday,” Kotak noted. “A decision will be made tomorrow evening after consulting with the physios and doctors to assess if there’s a risk of the spasm recurring during the match. That’s essential. If there’s any doubt, I believe he will rest for another game, as it won’t benefit the team otherwise. A player like Shubman, especially as captain, is invaluable to any team.”

Kotak acknowledged that while the Indian team would significantly miss its captain, the squad possesses the depth to compensate. “If he has to miss out due to injury, we have plenty of capable players who can step in. They are professionals and must deliver for the team. We all hope he plays, but if not, we’ll have a strong replacement, and perhaps the newcomer will score a century.”

If Gill is unavailable, Dhruv Jurel, who batted at No. 4 in Kolkata, is a potential option. “Jurel batted at No. 4, making him a candidate. However, until we know about Shubman’s condition, discussing who will play is premature. Once we have clarity and assess the wicket tomorrow, we’ll determine the best lineup.”

Kotak emphasized how Gill’s absence impacted the first Test. “In the previous match, there was little discussion on our chances had Shubman batted in both innings. The second innings may not have even come into play. If he had batted in the first innings and we had built a partnership with a 100-run lead, we would have been fine. That’s not an excuse, but a reality he couldn’t bat in both innings.”

Kotak responded assertively to the criticism of Gambhir following India’s fourth home Test loss within a year. “There’s been a lot of talk about Gautam Gambhir being criticized. As a staff member, I feel compelled to speak out. This isn’t the right approach,” he stated, suggesting that some criticisms had ulterior motives. “It seems some individuals have personal agendas. Good luck to them, but it’s not right.”

He questioned why only Gambhir faced scrutiny, highlighting that players also underperformed. “No one is addressing the actions of specific batsmen or bowlers or suggesting changes in our batting strategy.”

Kotak commended the head coach for accepting responsibility for the pitch conditions at Eden Gardens. “Gautam stated that he took the full blame upon himself, believing it was unfair to blame the curators.”

Addressing technical issues and evolving batting strategies, Kotak recognized that South Africa adapted better to the conditions and discussed how modern batting, heavily influenced by T20 formats, has shifted techniques. “When a batsman approaches the crease, we cannot simply instruct him to play aggressively and run quickly. We discuss with players the importance of creating a plan and taking their time... I believe on such pitches, it’s better to play actively than defensively while maintaining proper footwork.”

On the technical evolution, he elaborated: “In a Test match, footwork is crucial. In T20 and power hitting, the focus shifts to establishing an early base, often compromising footwork.”