Guwahati: India’s crushing 408-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium, sealing a 0-2 series whitewash, has thrust head coach Gautam Gambhir into the eye of a storm.
The loss, India’s heaviest in Test history, has triggered intense scrutiny of Gambhir’s strategies, with critics pointing to his tactical missteps as a key reason for the debacle.
Gambhir’s preference for all-rounders over specialist batsmen left India with just three dedicated batters, weakening the line-up against South Africa’s formidable attack, led by Simon Harmer’s six-wicket haul and Marco Jansen’s fiery pace. His decision to drop Axar Patel, a standout in the first Test, for the injury-prone Nitish Reddy baffled experts. The inconsistent batting order, with Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan alternating at number three, further exposed India’s fragility.
The coach’s animated pep talks failed to inspire a batting collapse from 95/1 to 122/7, with stand-in captain Rishabh Pant’s flashy shots drawing Gambhir’s ire for “playing to the gallery”. Gambhir, however, accepted collective blame, stating, “It starts with me,” while defending his vision for “tough characters” over flamboyant talent. He attributed the loss to a young squad’s inexperience and a transitional phase, citing the absence of veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
With India losing five of seven home tests in 13 months, fans booed Gambhir, and experts like Anil Kumble questioned his constant tinkering. As the BCCI contemplates his future, India’s once-proud home record has crumbled, placing Gambhir’s coaching tenure in jeopardy.