Perth, Jan 17 (IANS) India’s opening batsman Gautam Gambhir Tuesday said it was unfair to single out veteran batsman V.V.S. Laxman and admitted that the whole team has let down a billion expectations. Gambhir hoped that India would turn around things in the fourth and the final cricket Test in Adelaide starting Jan 24.

India, who suffered a 0-4 whitewash in England seven months ago, arrived in Australia as favourites but now trail 0-3 and are staring at another whitewash. India suffered their seventh consecutive away Test loss in the third Test in Perth.

Gambhir said the famed India batting must take the responsibility for the debacle.

“There was a lot of expectation from us on this tour … the kind of batting we have, we’ve let the entire nation down. Hopefully we can turn things around in Adelaide (and) put some smiles on the faces of the people back home,” Gambhir told reporters here.

“Whatever backlash that’s happening in India we are ready to accept. We’ve given opportunity for people to criticize,” Gambhir said.

“We have not played well. I’ll be the first to accept that,” he said.

Defending Laxman, Gambhir said the 37-year-old Hyderabadi, famous for his match-winning 281 against Australia in Kolkata in 2001, is one of the legends of the game and no one should decide when he should retire.

Laxman, who has played 133 Tests, had a poor series in England and has averaged just 17 in the three matches here so far.

“Why criticize one person. He’s been a legend of the game. Why only VVS Laxman? The top seven (batsmen) should be criticized. We all have failed as a unit. He’s served Indian cricket for a long long time. No one else should decide when it’s best for Laxman to retire. He should make that decision,” he said.

Gambhir said India have to start winning overseas if they want to regain the No.1 status, which was lost in England.

“If you want to be the No.1 Test playing nation you have to start winning overseas whether it is Australia, England or South Africa,” he said.

Gambhir was confident that for both Laxman and India the turnaround is just round the corner.

“We always knew it was going to be challenging … it’s a tough place to play cricket. A lot of credit goes to them (Australia). You should not be hesitant giving credit when they’ve done well. They’ve played some very good cricket. As a unit, as a team, they’ve played good cricket … they kept us under pressure and never let us off the hook,” he said.