India cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday came out in firm support of Virat Kohli and his men after they were comprehensively defeated by South Africa in the Centurion Test.

“Its time to show support for Indian team and not being over-the-top critical. This was the team that had such a fabulous run, two games don’t make them bad. Rather than being severe on our boys, let’s just give credit to d opposition @BCCI. Simple: Well played @OfficialCSA,” Gautam tweeted after fans criticized the Indian team for a defeat against the South Africans.

Its time to show support for Indian team and not being over-the-top critical. This was the team that had such a fabulous run, two games don’t make them bad. Rather than being severe on our boys, let’s just give credit to d opposition @BCCI. Simple: Well played @OfficialCSA

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 17, 2018

Kohli was generous in his analysis after India’s streak of nine successive series wins came to an end in outstanding fashion on Wednesday. “We need to be hard on ourselves,” said Kohli after India were blown away by debutant pacer Lungi Ngidi on the fifth day of the second Test at SuperSport Park.

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Ngidi took six for 39 as South Africa clinched the three-match Test series with a 135-run win. “We need to ask ourselves if we are giving 120 percent for the team every time we play a ball, bowl a ball or field a ball. As a team, we will definitely lay out these things in the open and ask the guys to be honest about what they were thinking about at particular stages of the game,” said Virat.

Kohli recognized that South Africa had outplayed India on a slow pitch. He said, “These conditions are something we are used to. South Africa collectively was a much better team than us.”

Also read: Kohli breaks Sachin's record

India will still remain at the no.1 team in the ICC Test rankings but second-placed South Africa can draw level with them on points even if they complete a clean sweep with a win in the third Test in Johannesburg, starting on January 24.

Kohli dismissed ideas that India was no longer worthy of their top ranking after the two defeats. He described, “We have to believe we are the best side. We have had opportunities to win in both games so that is positive we can take out of it.”