Rohit Kumar

NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir is in no mood to quit as the head coach of the national team after India’s ignominious 2-0 white wash against South Africa at the ACA stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday and has preferred to leave the ball in the court of the Board of Control for Cricket in India to decide his future.

As the fans chanted “Gautam Gambhir Hai Hai” after India’s abject surrender to South African bowlers, Gambhir, understandably, had to face some tough questions in the press conference, including one about his future as the coach of the Indian team in the longest format. When asked about his future. At the press conference after the second test match in which India was defeated by 408 runs, their biggest in terms of runs in test cricket, Gambhir was asked the question if he thought he was the right person to remain the head coach at least in the longer format of the game, and his reply was, “It is up to the BCCI to decide. I have said it during my first press conference when I took over as the head coach that Indian cricket is important, I’m not important. And I sit here and say the same thing.”

Gambhir, under whom India has lost 10 out of 19 Tests, has now presided over two Test series defeats at home since he took over last year. After losing to New Zealand 0-3 in 2024, India went down to South Africa 0-2 on Wednesday. “People can keep forgetting, but I’m the same guy who got results in England (2-2 Test series draw), with a young team. I’m sure you guys will forget very soon because a lot of people keep talking about New Zealand. I’m the same guy, under whom (we) won the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup as well,” he added.

He also explained that the team was undergoing a transition in both batting and bowling departments and called for patience. “I don’t think ever in Indian cricket, something like this has happened where the transition is happening in the spin bowling and batting department. This is a team which has less experience. I have said before this as well, that they need to keep learning and do everything possible to turn the tide. So all of us need to give them time. I am sure they have got the skill, talent and ability. Consistency will come with experience. When they play in difficult situations, eventually they will deliver.”

Commenting on the defeat, Gambhir termed the batting collapse in the first innings as unacceptable. “We need to apply (ourselves) better. At one stage, we were 95 for one. From there to 122 for seven, it is not acceptable,” said Gambhir. “We have seen these collapses in the past as well. Someone needs to put their hand up and say that I am going to stop this (collapse),” he emphasized.

The BCCI appointed Gambhir as India’s coach after Rahul Dravid’s tenure came to an end with India winning the T20 World Cup on June 29, last year. However, while India have done reasonably well in white-ball cricket, winning the Champions’ Trophy and the Asia Cup their performances in Tests seem to be hitting a new low with each passing series. Losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning only against teams like West Indies and Bangladesh and the best of the lot, drawing a Test series in England.

Gambhir has been grilled by social media and now even some former Indian cricketers, and it continued as the Indian reporters in Guwahati threw quite a few curveballs at the India coach. Gambhir was constantly reminded of India’s 0-3 loss to the Kiwis last year, and how clean sweeps against two quality Test teams has tested India like never before.

A lot has changed between these two series. Three stalwarts of Indian cricket – Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – retired from Tests. But is it enough to mask what just transpired? Gambhir set the record straight.

“It (blame) lies with everyone in that dressing room, and it starts with me. I have said it before as well. We win together and lose together. So I’m not going to say that it lies with everyone in that dressing room, it lies with everyone in that room. As simple as it can get. That is what team sport is all about,” added Gambhir.

“First of all, in the series against New Zealand, we had a very different side. And this is a very different one. When you see this batting line-up against that batting line-up, the experience between the two is chalk and cheese. So comparing everything to New Zealand probably is the wrong narrative. I will not give excuses – never done that in the past, won’t do it in the future – but if you see 4-5 batsmen in this top 8 have literally played less. than 15 Test matches. They are learning on the field when you’ve got to give them time.

Gambhir has, of late, attracted criticism for frequent changes in the team and his inclination to focus more on all-rounders than specialists in the traditional format. But, when asked about the kind of players that excel in Test cricket, Gambhir said the team needs ‘tough characters’. “You don’t need the most flamboyant and talented cricketers to play Test cricket. What we need is tough characters with limited skills. They make good Test cricketers,” he said.

When asked what the Indian team needs to do in order to come out of this rut, the head coach said that Test cricket has to be prioritized. “Start prioritizing Test cricket, if you are really serious about Test cricket. If you are serious about Test cricket in India, a collective effort is required. You cannot only blame only players or a certain individual,” he said.

The visitors etched their names into the record books with a 408-run demolition in the second Test, India’s heaviest defeat in the format. It marked only the Proteas’ second-ever Test series win on Indian soil, and their first since 2000, making the result all the more damning for the hosts. Fans at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium were unforgiving and started chanting “Gautam Gambhir hai hai” after the loss. Gambhir was videographed on the field when the chants were on.

Beyond the boundary, the fallout is intensifying. Critics, former cricketers, and fans alike are questioning selections, strategies, and leadership. Coach Gautam Gambhir now finds himself under the microscope, with BCCI officials expected to seek clear answers from both him and the team management.