Watch: "If you don't give credit to Gambhir..."- Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at India head coach's critics
The former Indian captain and opening batter, Sunil Gavaskar, has lashed out at the critics of the Indian head coach- Gautam Gambhir, despite India's 0-2 series defeat against South Africa including the massive 408-run defeat in the second Guwahati Test.
With India’s massive defeat by 408 runs during the second Test of the two-match series against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, they have faced their second whitewash in the history of the format at home in the last three attempts. They have dropped to the fifth position in the WTC 2025-27 points table.
The criticism has been on their head coach, Gautam Gambhir, seeking his sacking by the BCCI. Now, that’s where the former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, has stood beside the Delhi-born as he reckoned that it would also be up to the players to deliver in the middle.
“He is a coach. A coach can prepare a team, and a coach can only guide and share his experience. But it’s out there in the middle that the players will have to deliver. Now, those who are asking and putting him to be accountable, I have a counter question for them. What did you do when India won the Champions Trophy under him? What did you do when India won the Asia Cup?” Gavaskar expressed in a live show on ‘India Today.’
Sunil Gavaskar stands beside Gautam Gambhir despite India’s 0-2 series defeat to South Africa
Gavaskar questioned whether anyone called for an extension of Gambhir’s coaching after India’s success in the Champions Trophy and T20 cricket. The Indian head coach himself claimed that it would be up to the BCCI to take a call on his future as he would always think about Indian cricket at first hand.
“Now, people are asking for Gambhir to get sacked. Back then, did you say that he should have been given an extended contract? Or did you ask for a contract for life in one-day cricket or maybe T20 cricket? You didn’t say that. Only when the team doesn’t do well, you always look at the coach.” Gavaskar added in that live show.
“It is for the BCCI to decide. I have said this before as well, Indian cricket is important, I am not important. I am the same guy who got results in England, won the Champions Trophy, and the Asia Cup. This is a team that is learning. The blame lies with everyone and starts with me.” Gautam Gambhir spoke in the post-match press conference.
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