Gavaskar Defends Gambhir, Says Coaches Aren’t Praised in Wins But Blamed in Losses
Gavaskar defends Gambhir, questioning critics who blame him now but ignored his earlier tournament successes.
Legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar launched a fierce defense of under-fire head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday, slamming critics who have demanded accountability after India’s humiliating 0-2 Test series whitewash against South Africa, the team’s second home series defeat in 13 months. Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar questioned the selective outrage, asking why the same voices were silent when Gambhir led India to Champions Trophy and Asia Cup triumphs in white-ball formats earlier in 2025.
“The coach can prepare the team and share his experience, but it’s the players who have to deliver on that 22-yard pitch,” Gavaskar said. “To those calling for his sacking now, my counter-question is simple: What did you say when India won the Champions Trophy under him? Did you demand a lifetime contract then? No. You only point fingers when the team loses.”
Gavaskar argued that holding Gambhir solely responsible for the Test debacle is inconsistent and unfair, especially since he remains head coach across all three formats. He cited England’s Brendon McCullum, who successfully oversees red-ball, ODI, and T20 teams, as proof that a unified coaching structure can work. “We praise when it suits us and blame when it doesn’t,” he added.
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The 408-run defeat in Guwahati on Wednesday triggered widespread fury, with fans at Barsapara Stadium chanting “Gautam Gambhir hay hay, go back,” and former players like Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, and Venkatesh Prasad ripping into selection policies and tactical rigidity. India’s batting collapsed twice, and the bowling failed to take 20 wickets in either test, exposing deep structural flaws six months into Gambhir’s tenure.
Gavaskar, however, urged perspective, insisting that coaching impact must be judged holistically rather than through the prism of a single series. “If you didn’t give him credit for the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup, you have no right to blame him alone now,” he reiterated, pointing out that players, not the coach, execute on the field.
As India slips to fifth in the World Test Championship and faces a daunting rebuild ahead of tough away tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, followed by a blockbuster home series against Australia, the debate over Gambhir’s future has intensified. While critics demand immediate change, Gavaskar’s intervention has reignited the conversation about fair assessment, reminding fans that success and failure in Indian cricket are rarely the work of one man alone.
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