The Indian team’s tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was not just disappointing but also controversial as there were instances in which the details of the dressing room were leaked to the media. While it is being said that whatever happens in the dressing room should stay in the dressing room but there was certainly someone who was passing the information of the dressing room to the media.
As per the recent reports, the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has accused young cricketer Sarfaraz Khan of leaking information from the team’s dressing room during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Sarfaraz, who was left out of the playing XI throughout the series despite scoring a remarkable 150 in the previous series against New Zealand, has found himself at the center of controversy.
It has been reported that Gambhir raised the allegation during the BCCI’s review meeting held in Mumbai following the Australia tour. The coach specifically pointed to Sarfaraz as the source of the leak regarding his heated speech to the team after their crushing defeat in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The report further suggested that Gambhir’s displeasure with Sarfaraz could impact the young player’s career as long as he remains in charge of the team.
In a pre-match press conference ahead of the Sydney Test, Gambhir had emphasised the importance of honesty and dismissed media reports of the dressing room conflicts. He stressed that disagreements and stern words between a coach and his players should stay within the team environment and described the circulating stories as mere rumours rather than facts.
Following the Sydney Test, a leading news portal detailed how Gambhir had expressed his frustration with the team’s batting performance, reportedly telling the players, “Bahut ho gaya” (Enough is enough). He was particularly upset with the batters for prioritising their natural game over the strategies discussed in the dressing room. The same report also highlighted a growing sense of discord within the team, with multiple personalities contributing to a chaotic atmosphere.
The leaks continued to surface in the days that followed, further intensifying after India suffered another defeat in Sydney, ultimately conceding the series by 3-1. As a result, both Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma remained under scrutiny for the team’s poor performances over the past six months.
The Indian team will now shift focus to their upcoming white-ball series against England, followed by the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025, as they aim to bounce back from recent setbacks.
