India staged a miraculous comeback in the fifth and final Test of the England tour as they beat the hosts by six runs and held them to a 2-2 draw in the series.
England were on the verge of clinching the game and simultaneously the series 3-1 when Harry Brook and Joe Root looked set on the crease. Both batters completed their hundreds and they were inching closer to a comfortable win, however, Mohammed Siraj ended with a fifer a he cleaned up the English tail on Day 5, as India registered a six-run win.
It was a challenging tour for a new-look young Indian side, led by Shubman Gill, as the Men in Blue appeared without their stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who announced their retirement from the red-ball format just a month before the start of the tour.
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Head coach Gautam Gambhir was also under fire after India lost back-to-back Test series against New Zealand and Australia, with the loss against the Black Caps coming on home soil.
Even while the series was on, Gambhir was often targeted for his team selection. His decision to keep Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh on the bench throughout the series, especially drew massive criticism from a certain section of experts and fans.
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Navjot Singh Sidhu slams Gautam Gambhir's critics
Gambhir, though, has now found some support in Navjot Singh Sidhu, as the former Indian cricketer came to the coach's defence and slammed his critics.
On his YouTube channel, Sidhu said: "We do a lot of hero-worshipping. I want to say that whenever India plays even a little badly, anyone and everyone climbs on Gautam Gambhir and blames him. Will you stand up and greet him today?
"It was Gautam Gambhir who insisted on this transition, who gave opportunities to guys like Akash Deep and Washington. Yes, Kuldeep was maybe a better option. But he had conviction. There will be scope for improvement today and tomorrow as well. But for someone who has been questioned and criticised so much, today give him the due that he deserves."
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Sidhu added: "There were many unknowns when the team went who had not made their name. Gambhir had told three to four big names are missing from the team but think of it as an opportunity for others to establish themselves. His words have proven to be true. Be it Brisbane, Perth, or England, history has been scripted by youngsters and it is a big thing."
What next for the Indian Test cricket team?
The Indian Test team will return to action in October, when they face West Indies in a two-match series on home soil.