South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has commented on Gautam Gambhir’s future as a Test cricket coach following Team India’s recent struggles in the format as well. He also added that Team India’s performance in white-ball cricket can provide cues to Gambhir on how to revive their fortunes in Tests.
Writing in a column for ESPN Cricinfo, Bavuma shared, “When it comes to the red-ball stuff, India are definitely a team in transition. If I think of the Proteas Test team in 2019 – which is already seven years ago – we went through the same type of process or phase when we lost some of our big guns. So there is nothing unique about where India find themselves in Test cricket. India coach Gautam Gambhir has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and I think he is going to have to take it as it comes. He is going to have to find a way to buy himself time in the red-ball game, and I’m of the view that the performances in white-ball cricket may assist him.”
“Some may speak more to the narrative that Gambhir should perhaps carry on with the white-ball stuff and let someone else fulfil the Test cricket duties. Splitting the red- and white-ball coaching roles was something we gave a go within the Proteas set-up back in 2023. At the time there was sense behind the split rule. But now having one coach across all formats works a lot better for players from a continuity point of view. Moreover, it’s advantageous from a philosophy and playing style point of view. I don’t think a lot of teams are going with the split-format system anymore, and to be honest, I’m not really in favour of that rule,” he further added.
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“If anything, it just confuses the players, because in one format a certain type of language is spoken and then in another format, a couple of weeks later, you need to adjust. Gambhir’s contract runs through to the 2027 ODI World Cup and India just need to back him. I don’t think the men in suits at the BCCI put him in the position of coach so that he can be successful within six months. They want him to be successful over a period of two to four years. In that period, things are not going to be all good all the time. It needs to be about the long term,” he stated.
However, Temba Bavuma also said that India’s head coach must back players well, but added that those backed have to prove themselves too as well.
“In terms of the way Gambhir controls his current group of Test players, I think it would be best to be clear and say: Guys, it’s going to be a tough few months on away tours but let’s focus on the long term. But he is going to have to back his horses and, at some point, those horses are going to have to exit their pens and gallop for him,” Temba Bavuma concluded.
