Sunil Gavaskar slams Australian players, calls them brats for shifting blame on Justin Langer for series defeat against India

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Australia after stories emerged that some players were not happy with their coach Justin Langer’s style of functioning in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia were stunned by a depleted Indian team in their own backyard in the four-match series.

Despite being without their talismanic captain Virat Kohli and some key players, India came from behind to win the series 2-1. In the wake of the second straight defeat at home against India, the Australian players have faced severe criticism. And recently reports emerged that several players were unhappy with Langer’s management style, owing to his “intensity and mood swings”.

In the wake of the report, Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his support behind Justin Langer. The legendary batsman also stated that the Australian players have only themselves to blame for the loss to India. Gavaskar went as far as calling the players brats for shifting the blame on Langer. He also highlighted the fact that once the players are out on the field, the coach has no say in the proceedings.

“The leaks to the media about Langer actually reflects badly on the Australian team as it portrays them as brats who can’t accept they were outplayed and so need to shift the blame elsewhere,” wrote Sunil Gavaskar in his column for Mid-day.

“Stories planted in the media by the players or their agents or managers are making out that it was Langer’s intensity and passion that had the players under pressure and so affected their game. This is utter rubbish as once the players are out on the field, the coach can do nothing and the players themselves have to find the answers to the questions asked by the opposition,” Gavaskar added.

At the same time, Gavaskar questioned the logic of Australia deciding to bat first in the Melbourne Test match. The decision had backfired as India bowled them out for just 195 before scoring 326. In the second innings too, Australia failed to do well and were all out for just 200 as India won the game by eight wickets.

“The one thing that they could possibly pin on the coach and the advisory group is the decision to bat first in the Melbourne Test match. Whether that was only the captain and senior players’ decision to bat first or whether it was one that the coach Langer encouraged Tim Paine to take is not known but apart from that possibility, the Australians have nobody else to blame than themselves,” wrote Sunil Gavaskar.