Madan Lal Critiques Rumors of Discontent; They Aren't Amateurs
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New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) Former Indian fast bowler Madan Lal expressed his dissatisfaction with the reports of internal discussions being leaked from the Indian dressing room, which suggested a potential rift within the team. He raised concerns about how such private matters came to light and mentioned that if these rumors were indeed accurate, it would cast a negative shadow over the team.
After the Indian team's significant 184-run loss to Australia in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, there were claims of unrest in the dressing room. It was reported that head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed his frustration, stating, “Bahut ho gaya (I’ve had enough)” during his address to the players, indicating that the atmosphere was far from ideal.
In an interview with IANS, the 1983 World Cup champion remarked, “When you experience a loss, rumors tend to circulate. What’s the actual truth? We have no insight into this rift. What is it about? What is the cause of this supposed rift?”
“This isn’t typical; the media tends to sensationalize. How are these internal discussions making their way to the public? What is this rift about? We should be informed about it directly. Hearing about it through social media or news outlets doesn’t verify its existence. If there’s a rift, someone needs to clarify, ‘This is what it is’. Are you certain there’s a rift? I’m not convinced. Are those making claims on television certain? What evidence do they possess?” he added.
In light of the swirling speculation regarding the dressing room's harmony following a heavy defeat, Gambhir later stated in a press conference that these were merely “reports, not facts.”
The 73-year-old veteran pointed out that if such rumors held any truth, it would not bode well for the team. He stressed the need for the players to convene and address any issues for the betterment of the squad.
“Currently, these rumors are detrimental to the team. We possess a strong team, but it’s crucial that we have an open dialogue. If you can equalize the series with a single match, it’s essential to converse professionally. You’re not amateurs; you’re seasoned professionals,” he stated.
“If these issues are occurring, it’s quite concerning. Mature players should not be engaging in such behavior, as it reflects poorly on Indian cricket. Everything can be resolved in private discussions. What more is required? The game is paramount, and the team’s needs should take precedence,” he concluded.
Currently, India is trailing 1-2 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, having won the opener convincingly. Reflecting on the team's performance, the former pacer acknowledged that they had made errors that contributed to their losses and urged the top-order batsmen to step up their game.
“We have made mistakes during the series. Our top-order batsmen have struggled to score runs. For instance, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have each managed only one century, and Rishabh Pant has also been underperforming. These three batsmen are crucial, and their lack of performance makes it quite challenging. The only consistent performers have been Jaiswal and Nitish Reddy,” he said.
He continued, “We missed key opportunities in the last Test match. We had a chance to regain control, but allowed the tailenders, the number 10 and 11 batsmen, to score excessively. That’s where we lost the match. A target of 340 was always a significant challenge. Had they not scored those runs, the target might have been around 250-260, and we could have clinched the Test.”
“We also dropped critical catches at vital moments. Conversely, Australia seized every opportunity and bowled exceptionally well on the final day. That’s how they secured their victory. If your top batsmen fail to deliver—though not everyone needs to score—at least one or two of the top three must perform,” he concluded.
