Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has defended head coach Gautam Gambhir amid growing criticism following India's Test series defeat against South Africa. This marks the third consecutive Test series loss under Gambhir's coaching tenure. Gavaskar emphasized that players, not coaches, are responsible for on-field performance and questioned why Gambhir received no credit for recent tournament victories. India suffered a disappointing series loss, losing the first Test at Eden Gardens by 30 runs and the second in Guwahati by a massive 408 runs. This was South Africa's first Test series win in India in 25 years. Social media has seen intense criticism of Gambhir, particularly regarding India's declining home Test dominance. The all-format series between India and South Africa, which began on November 14, continues with three ODIs followed by five T20Is, concluding on December 19. Gambhir's future as coach remains uncertain pending the series outcome.
Gavaskar Questions Critics Over Selective Blame
Sunil Gavaskar argued that ultimate responsibility for match performance rests with players once they enter the field, not the coach. During his interaction with India Today, he pointed out the inconsistency in evaluating Gambhir's tenure. Gavaskar highlighted that critics failed to credit Gambhir for India's 2025 Champions Trophy and 2025 Asia Cup victories but quickly blamed him after defeats. He stressed that a coach prepares and guides players but cannot control their execution during matches. The cricket community and fans on social media have heavily criticized Gambhir, especially concerning India's declining Test form at home. Gavaskar's comments aim to provide perspective on coaching accountability amid the ongoing debate about Gambhir's position.
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