Ranchi: The sweltering heat of Ranchi Stadium turned scorching on Friday as Indian cricket fans unleashed a barrage of mockery on head coach Gautam Gambhir during the team’s net session, just a day before the first ODI against South Africa.
A viral video of the cheeky chants has since set social media ablaze, amplifying the sting of India’s recent whitewash in the home Test series.
The footage, shared on X by @GemsOfCrickets, captures a boisterous crowd from the stands heckling the stoic Gambhir, who was overseeing drills for the white-ball squad. One vocal supporter led the charge with a biting taunt: “3-0 (sic) se ghar mein South Africa se haar gaye. Ghar par jeet nahi sakte, 2027 ka World Cup bhool jao!” – translating to a savage reminder of the 2-0 Test drubbing, including gut-wrenching losses in Kolkata and Guwahati.
This loss marks the second such home debacle under Gambhir’s watch in his last three Test series, fuelling doubts about his tactical nous.
Unfazed, Gambhir kept his focus on the field, ignoring the barbs as players like captain KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant honed their skills. The squad, bolstered by fresh talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar, boasts a formidable ODI pedigree, but the Proteas arrive riding high on their Test triumph.
With the series opener set for Saturday, this fan backlash underscores the mounting pressure on Gambhir. Can India reverse the trend in ODIs and quell the doubters? Or will Ranchi’s roar echo louder if the hosts falter again? Cricket lovers across the nation are glued, waiting for redemption on the big stage.