Shastri urges Gambhir to come down hard on Jaiswal, Nair and others after repeated mistakes: ‘No room for leniency in that dressing room’

After India’s five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley, former head coach Ravi Shastri didn’t hold back, urging Gautam Gambhir to take a no-nonsense approach in the dressing room. Speaking on *Sky Sports Cricket*, Shastri said it’s time for Gambhir to address the team’s repeated mistakes firmly—even if it means calling out underperforming players.
“Sometimes, you have to be hard in that dressing room,” Shastri said. “There are moments where you need to tick off a few guys, especially when the basics aren’t being done right.”
India’s fielding was one of the biggest letdowns in the match. The team dropped five catches in England’s first innings alone, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal responsible for four across both innings. Several of those missed chances proved costly, as they allowed England’s batters to regain control at crucial points.
But that wasn’t the only problem. Even though India’s top-order showed up in both innings with solid performances, the lower-middle order couldn’t hold their ground. They collapsed twice, giving England just enough of an opening to fight back and eventually take control of the match. Shastri also highlighted a worrying drop in intensity during crucial moments—particularly in the field—which, he said, made matters worse and helped swing the momentum England’s way.
“There were a lot of positives—Shubman Gill’s century was a big one,” Shastri acknowledged. “As captain, he’s done more than what could be asked of him. But things like dropped catches aren’t in his control. That’s where the team needs to step up.”
He also criticized the batting unit for throwing away strong positions. “When you’re in a situation to post 550 or 600, you can’t afford to be timid or meek. You’ve got to put a price on your wicket.”
The final day highlighted India’s missed opportunities. Jaiswal dropped Ben Duckett just before the opener reached his century, and Duckett made the most of the reprieve, going on to score a match-winning 149. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant also missed chances to dismiss Ben Stokes and Joe Root off Jadeja’s bowling.
Shastri’s message was clear: while there were bright spots, India needs a shake-up in terms of discipline and execution—and Gambhir must lead that charge from the front.