Indian cricket is facing a major crisis following a string of disappointing performances at home. The country’s passionate fanbase has expressed frustration over India’s humiliating defeats to both New Zealand and South Africa. These defeats, especially the Test series loss to the Proteas for the first time in 25 years on Indian soil, have raised serious questions about the direction of the team under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Despite the criticism, the BCCI has made it clear: Gambhir stays.
The BCCI’s Internal Logic
According to inside sources, the board believes the team is in a delicate phase of transition. A mix of youngsters and senior players are being tested, and changing the head coach at such a moment could undermine the development process.
A BCCI official told The Indian Express:
“Gambhir’s contract continues until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He has a long-term vision. With the T20 World Cup around the corner, it would be reckless to change the coaching setup now. We will speak to selectors and the management, but no sudden decision will be made.”
This indicates the board is willing to give Gambhir more time to implement his plans, despite the backlash.
Tactical Failures and Public Outrage
The South Africa series exposed several tactical shortcomings:
Overly spin-friendly pitches
A confused batting order
Repeated promotion of Washington Sundar
Questionable team selections
At the heart of the controversy is India’s dramatic batting collapse. From 95 for 1, India slipped to 120 for 7 in the first Test, effectively handing the momentum to South Africa. Fans, commentators, and former players slammed the team’s approach, arguing that technical and mental discipline were missing.
Gambhir defended some decisions but admitted the collapse was indefensible.
“You cannot go from 95 for 1 to 120 for 7. This is unacceptable cricket. Not everything was about spin either—a fast bowler took four wickets,” he said.