The former wicket-keeper batter of India and the Kolkata Knight Riders, Robin Uthappa, has stood firm in support of India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, despite the hosts’ 30-run defeat against South Africa during the opening Test of the two-match series at the Eden Gardens. The home side has now lost four Tests in six attempts under Gambhir’s coaching.

Several former Indian players, including Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, blamed the choice of surface for the Kolkata Test. However, Uthappa reckoned that Gambhir should not be held responsible for the loss.

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“I saw a comment yesterday suggesting that I was defending GG: Yaar, coach thodi jaake khel raha hai andar (The coach is not playing out there). We are examining the results and blaming a coach, but you have to consider the overall scenario. When they criticised Rahul Dravid, it didn't make sense to me. Scoring 20-30 thousand international runs is not easy. So, if he can be trolled, anyone can be trolled.” Uthappa expressed on his YouTube video.

Robin Uthappa supports Gautam Gambhir despite India’s 30-run defeat vs South Africa

Uthappa added that the poor pitches in domestic cricket get reprimanded but not in international affairs. There are several games in the Ranji Trophy where the batters hardly had anything to do, and games end in less than two days.

“We had neutral curators come and control the kind of wickets we were going to prepare. Because if a game got over in two days, the grounds men and association were reprimanded. But here, matches are getting over in two-and-a-half days. However, you say no to those types of wickets in the Ranji Trophy.” Uthappa addressed.

“You are not encouraged to prepare turning tracks. Even if you are going to prepare a progressively turning track, where there would be a lot of turns on Day 3 and Day 4, you can actually develop batters who are equipped to play well against spin. We have been discouraged from doing that in the past 10 years, and you are taking the players to task for not playing spin well.” The former KKR star shed light.