New Delhi: India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir faced questions about his future following a crushing 408-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test at Guwahati, which completed a 2-0 series whitewash for the visitors. Speaking at the post-match press conference on November 26, Gambhir emphasised that the Indian cricket team and its results are more important than his personal role.
Asked whether he considered himself the right fit as India’s Test coach, Gambhir said it was for the BCCI to decide his future. He reminded reporters of his previous successes, including India’s Champions Trophy triumph and the hard-fought 2-2 Test series in England earlier this year. “The blame lies with everyone and starts with me,” he admitted, reflecting on the team’s poor performance.
Gambhir stressed that the defeat was a collective responsibility. “We need to play better. From 95 for 1 to 122 for 7 is not acceptable. You don’t blame any individual or any particular shot. Blame lies with everyone. I never blamed individuals and won’t do it going forward,” he said.
Under his tenure, India have lost 10 of 18 Tests, including home whitewashes against New Zealand last year and South Africa now. Gambhir’s recent decisions, including frequent team changes and a preference for all-rounders over specialists, have drawn criticism. However, he defended his approach, stating, “You don’t need the most flamboyant or talented cricketers to play Test cricket. What we need are tough characters with limited skills. They make good Test cricketers.”
Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant also addressed the team’s performance, acknowledging South Africa’s dominance and the need for India to improve. “It’s disappointing. We need to get better as a team and give credit to the opposition. You can’t take cricket for granted, even at home,” Pant said. He added that the team would focus on learning from the series and strengthening their mindset for the future.
Pant noted the positives of the series lay in refining team plans and strategies. “The opposition played better cricket, and we didn’t capitalise. In the future, we need to take the learning and stick together as a team,” he concluded.
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