0-2 whitewash! 'Can't function on such egos': Ex-India cricketer slams Team India selection calls

India’s crushing 408-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati has triggered a wave of anger and frustration across the cricketing community, with social media flooded by reactions from fans and former players.

The loss, which is India’s biggest ever in terms of runs in Test cricket and one that completed a 2-0 series whitewash, has intensified scrutiny on head coach Gautam Gambhir and the direction of the Test team.

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Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad was among the strongest voices of criticism.

Reflecting the growing public sentiment, he wrote on X, “Really disappointed by how India is going about in Test cricket. The all-rounder obsession is absolute brain-fade especially when you don’t bowl them. Rank poor tactics, poor skills, poor body language and an unprecedented 2 series white wash at home. Hope this does not get washed off with Test matches 9 months away and this negative approach changes."

But that was not the end of it. In a thread of tweets, the former cricketer added, "Need to play specialists and players need to be picked on the basis of Ranji, Duleep Trophy in domestic cricket. Can pick in 50 overs based on IPL performance, but for Test cricket, Ranji and Duleep trophy have to be the barometer. Yash Rathod, Shubham Sharma, Baba Indrajith, Smaran Ravichandran are names most wouldn’t have heard of as they don’t play IPL but consistently scoring runs in domestic cricket."

Furthermore, he maintained a stern position toward the team's insistence on all-rounders and that side has been trying to prove a strategy that has been 'flawed' from the very start.

"Can’t play sub 40 FC avg players in the Test team based on IPL performances. Playing all-rounder in Indian conditions because he can bat is not the correct approach in Test cricket. Test cricket needs specialists. We all love Indian cricket and it’s sad to see what’s happening over the last year and a half just to somehow prove this flawed strategy right. Can’t function on such egos in the interest of Indian cricket. Truly disappointing," he wrote in a lengthy rant on X.

Afterwards, another tweet ruled out the team being in a 'transitional phase' as a valid excuse for their struggles.

He wrote, "We cannot hide under the garb of transition. Barring Sudarshan, Jurel and Reddy, most of the guys have been around for 7–8 years. Some very experienced campaigners. This is a series of tactical errors, obsession with playing all-rounders and not wanting to learn from mistakes. Embarrassing.”

His comments resonated widely, echoing concerns over muddled strategies and a team struggling to find stability.

Gambhir, addressing the media after the defeat, accepted full responsibility while emphasising that his future lies in the hands of the BCCI. “It is up to the BCCI to decide my future. But I am the same guy who got you results in England and was coach for Champions Trophy,” he said, reminding critics of recent successes under his tenure.



As India reels from the latest setback, the conversation is now dominated by questions of strategy, accountability, and the immediate future of the Test team, and more importantly, of its head coach.

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