Madan Lal expresses disappointment over leaked team discussions, questions rift reports

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Former India fast bowler Madan Lal expressed disappointment over reports of leaked discussions from the Indian team’s dressing room which suggested a rift within the squad. He questioned how such internal matters were made public and emphasized that if the rumors were true they would reflect poorly on the team’s unity. These reports came after India’s heavy 184-run loss to Australia in the Boxing Day Test claiming that head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed dissatisfaction saying “Bahut ho gaya” (“I’ve had enough”) during a speech, with the atmosphere in the dressing room described as "far from ideal."

Speaking on the matter, the 1983 World Cup winner stated, “When you lose, rumours tend to spread. But what is the truth behind this supposed rift? We don't know anything concrete about it.” He pointed out that dressing room discussions should not be leaked to the public and questioned the credibility of sources spreading such information. "What is a rift, and who is saying this? Is there a proper source for this? Are they sure? We don’t know for sure,” he added. Amid growing speculation, Gambhir later clarified that these were merely rumors and not reflective of the reality in the team. The 73-year-old veteran emphasized that such rumors were harmful to the team and called for open dialogue to resolve any issues internally for the benefit of the team’s performance.

Lal also highlighted that if these rumors were true, it would not bode well for the team. “We have a good team, but these issues should be addressed professionally. The players are experienced and mature enough to discuss matters and resolve them. If this isn’t happening, it’s a bad sign,” he said, stressing the importance of unity and communication within the squad. Looking at India's performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Lal admitted that mistakes had been made. He pointed to the underperformance of top-order batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant, which had hurt the team’s chances. “The top batsmen need to score runs. If they don’t, it becomes very difficult for the team,” he said. Lal also mentioned the missed opportunities in the last Test, where India allowed Australia’s tailenders to score crucial runs, inflating the target to 340. “Had they not scored those runs, the target would have been around 250-260, and we might have won,” he noted. He also criticized missed catches, pointing out that Australia capitalized on every opportunity and played exceptional cricket, ultimately securing the win. Lal concluded by urging the top-order batsmen to step up in the remaining matches, acknowledging that consistency from the top three is crucial for India’s success in the series.