Gautam Gambhir Bears Brunt of Criticism as India Suffer 2-1 ODI Series Loss at Home
India head coach Gautam Gambhir draws sharp social media criticism over selection choices and strategy following a 2-1 ODI series defeat to New Zealand.
India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir came under intense social media scrutiny after New Zealand stunned the hosts with a 2–1 ODI series victory, sealing the decider with a commanding performance on Sunday. The loss added to growing concerns among fans over India’s consistency at home under the former opener’s tenure.
In the third and final ODI, New Zealand set India a daunting target of 338, powered by centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Despite Virat Kohli scoring yet another hundred, India failed to sustain the chase, eventually falling short as a collective batting collapse overshadowed individual brilliance.
Following the defeat, Gambhir once again became the focal point of criticism online, with fans flooding social media platforms with memes and sharp reactions. Many questioned the team’s approach in high-pressure moments, arguing that India appeared tactically outplayed across key phases of the series.
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The ODI loss has also been viewed as part of a broader and troubling pattern since Gambhir took over as head coach in mid-2024. Under his watch, India has suffered several rare setbacks, including a historic 3–0 home Test whitewash by New Zealand, an ODI series loss to Sri Lanka after 27 years, and a home Test series defeat to South Africa.
A major source of fan frustration has been Gambhir’s selection and strategic decisions. The exclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh from the first two ODIs drew widespread criticism, while calls for the return of Mohammed Shami to the one-day side grew louder as the series progressed.
With expectations always high for Indian cricket at home, the latest defeat has intensified pressure on Gambhir and the team management. As the focus shifts to upcoming assignments, questions around team balance, selection clarity, and on-field strategy are likely to dominate discussions in the days ahead.
