Brother's Critical Post Adds Fuel to India's Test Crisis
Vikas Kohli, the elder brother of cricket superstar Virat Kohli, ignited fresh debate about India's red-ball cricket struggles with a sharply worded post on Threads during the tense fourth day of the Guwahati Test against South Africa. His message arrived at a critical moment when India, chasing an improbable target of 589 runs, had stumbled to 27 for 2 by stumps, adding another layer to the ongoing scrutiny over the team's strategic choices and future direction.
The Controversial Social Media Message
In his now-deleted post, Vikas Kohli suggested that recent changes in team approach had disrupted a system that previously delivered consistent results. Without directly naming any individuals, he strongly hinted at what he perceived as unnecessary interference under the current leadership setup.
"There was a time that we played to win even in overseas conditions. Now we are playing to save the match.. even in India.. This is what happens when u try to boss around and change things unnecessary which were not broken," Vikas wrote in his pointed critique.
The cricket community has widely interpreted his comments as a direct reference to head coach Gautam Gambhir's leadership and India's recent pattern of inconsistent performances in Test matches.
Match Situation Turns Grim for India
On the field, India's position remained precarious throughout the fourth day's play. South Africa, the defending World Test Championship champions, declared their second innings at 260 for 5 earlier in the day, setting India a massive target that had no real precedent in home conditions.
The Indian batting lineup suffered early setbacks, losing both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul before stabilizing at 27 for 2. This left the middle order with the daunting task of holding off a determined South African bowling attack on the final day.
This challenging phase comes during a transformative period for Indian cricket, as the team continues to find its footing following the high-profile retirements of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket.
Broader Implications for Indian Cricket
With India now standing on the brink of defeat and South Africa firmly dictating terms in Guwahati, the final day promises more uncertainty than optimism for the home team. Whether the Indian squad can steady themselves or slip further into defeat will not only determine the match outcome but also shape the wider conversation about team strategy that has grown increasingly vocal in recent weeks.
Day 5 will ultimately decide whether South Africa can complete their bowling mission to secure a clean sweep victory or whether India can muster the resilience to salvage an honorable draw from what appears to be a losing position.
The timing of Vikas Kohli's intervention, though since removed from his social media handle, has amplified the ongoing discussion about India's Test cricket philosophy at a moment when the team appears most vulnerable to criticism.
