New Delhi: Despite mounting pressure after a humiliating 2-0 home Test series defeat to South Africa national cricket team, Gautam Gambhir has publicly refused to step down as head coach of India national cricket team.
At a press conference following the defeat in Guwahati — a match that ended in a 408-run loss, India’s worst-ever home Test margin by runs — Gambhir was asked whether he still believes he is the right man for the job. He responded that it was for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to decide and reminded critics of his prior achievements.
Gambhir said: “Indian cricket is important; I am not … People can keep forgetting that I am the same guy who got results in England with a young team. … I am the same guy under whom India won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup.”
He acknowledged that responsibility for the series defeat starts with him — but refused to single out individuals: “We win together and lose together.”
Gambhir also argued that comparisons with previous losses — notably the 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand national cricket team in October — ignore the significant changes to India’s Test squad. With recent retirements of senior players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Gambhir noted that the current side is comparatively inexperienced and still “learning on the job.”
Still, the record stands stark: under Gambhir’s stewardship, India’s Test side has lost five of its last seven home Tests.
In short, despite widespread calls for change after repeated failures in the red-ball format, Gambhir insists he remains committed — and believes his past successes merit giving him more time.
