India opener Gautam Gambhir has come out in full support of teammate VVS Laxman saying the veteran alone could not be blamed for the team's slump in the ongoing series.
"Why criticise one person? He (Laxman) has been a legend of the game," said Gambhir said on Tuesday.
"The top six or the top seven should be criticised equally. We have failed as a unit. So why only about VVS Laxman?" he said. "He plays one good innings, he'll be batting with confidence."
Gambhir also said that only the veteran had the right to retire from the Test arena.
"There should not be anyone (else) who should be deciding about his retirement. It should be him. The entire team is behind and we will always support him," he said.
The Delhi opener believes the batsmen must look to extend their stay the crease to challenge Australia who have convincingly beaten the Indians in the first three Tests.
"We have not played well. I'll be the first to accept that," he said. "Whatever backlash is happening back home, we accept it. We have let the nation down. Hopefully we can turn it around," Gambhir said.
"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.
"The top seven, everyone has got a half-century but they're not able to convert it into a big hundred. I don't think things have gone our way but we will hope that we are positive," he added.
But the 30-year-old also acknowledged the hosts for the manner in which they have played in the series so far.
"Australia is always a tough place to win. We should not be hesitant to give credit to the opposition. They always kept us on the hook," said Gambhir.
India play Australia in the fourth and final Test at Adelaide on January 24.