Under heavy scrutiny after India’s shocking 2–0 whitewash to South Africa — capped by a record 408-run defeat in Guwahati — head coach Gautam Gambhir defended his approach while acknowledging urgent work is needed in India’s Test setup. In a frank post-series press conference, Gambhir repeatedly stressed that the team must prioritise Test cricket’s demands and stop romanticising flamboyance over situational awareness.
Gambhir did not name individuals, but his criticism clearly targeted reckless shot selection and a lack of contingency plans in pressure moments. He lamented that several dismissals were not technical failures alone but stemmed from a mindset that refused to adapt.
Examples from the Guwahati Test were stark: Rishabh Pant’s wild slog at 105/4 and Dhruv Jurel’s needless pull to Marco Jansen that yielded a duck were cited as symptomatic of the problem Gambhir flagged — players sticking to a single approach when the situation demanded caution.
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“Red-ball cricket needs tough characters who can apply themselves session after session,” Gautam Gambhir said, urging collective responsibility rather than finger-pointing. He warned against one-dimensional batting in Tests: “If someone thinks this is how I play and has no plan B, you will see collapses.” The coach doubled down on accountability, calling for players to put the team first and showing that selection policy or coaching alone cannot fix recurring collapses.
Gambhir also highlighted selection and role clarity as part of the solution. Constant reshuffling — frequent chopping and changing of the top order and too many experimental moves — has left young batters struggling to find rhythm. With senior pillars having retired, the coach argued India must now build a stable core and give players enough time and consistent roles to develop a Test temperament.
Still, Gautam Gambhir defended his record in limited-overs formats, reminding critics of recent successes in white-ball cricket. Yet he conceded that Test performance needs urgent correction, starting with mental application and clearer batting plans. “You don’t need flamboyant players; you need players who can grind and execute in tough spells,” he said.
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The message was clear: India is in a transition, but transition cannot be an excuse for repeated capitulations. What Gambhir outlined — more grit, better planning, and collective ownership — reads like a roadmap. Whether it will translate into on-field discipline remains to be seen. For now, the spotlight is firmly on the dressing room: selectors, coaches and players must all act if India are to reclaim their home fortress and restore faith in their Test project.
