Indian fans heavily criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir after India suffered a crushing 408-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in the second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Frustration inside the venue grew to such an extent that a spectator was detained for unruly conduct towards the Indian head coach.
This defeat was India’s biggest defeat in Test cricket. It is noteworthy that South Africa achieved its first series win in India since 2000. It also hurt India’s chances of reaching the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 and was their second home series win in 13 months under Gambhir’s tenure.
Fan arrested for saying ‘Gautam Gambhir hi-hi’
After the defeat, many angry fans showed their disappointment towards Gautam Gambhir. As soon as the match ended in Guwahati, the crowd started shouting “Gambhir, hi hi” and “Gambhir, go back”, and he did so in front of them.
The players also became aware of the situation. Fast bowler Mohammad Siraj moved towards the boundary and requested the crowd to stop shouting. Assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak also joined him, but still some fans continued to create ruckus.
The police officers present on the ground saw the situation and proceeded. He asked the crowd to stop sloganeering and tried to pacify them.
According to Hindustan Times report, the incident was so serious that BCCI team managers filed an official complaint. Police later identified one of the main individuals involved in the chanting and detained him from the stands.
This is shameless and pathetic. If you can’t tolerate criticism when you lose, don’t play cricket. pic.twitter.com/YBjRKPLsRW
– ππ¨βππ₯π’ππ’βπ (@Goatlified) 27 November 2025
Fans blame Gautam Gambhir’s selection; Shubman Gill’s response
India’s defeat on Wednesday has added to their recent struggles on home soil. They have now lost five of their last seven home Tests, something that had not happened in 66 years. This is only the third time that India has lost two consecutive Test series at home.
Many fans blame Gambhir’s coaching for these results and say that the team has poor selection and too many all-rounders instead of proper batsmen. After the defeat, Shubman Gill did not blame anyone. He asked everyone to remain calm and support the team.
Gill wrote on
India’s series defeat to South Africa exposes the team’s flaws
India’s 2-0 Test series defeat to South Africa exposed the team’s shortcomings. Gautam Gambhir’s inconsistent decisions, such as dropping Sai Sudarshan for Axar Patel and confusing the team combination, highlight his lack of tactical expertise in the longest format.
The Indian batsmen had no range of shots against spin on the challenging pitches, struggling to strike the right balance between attack and defence. In particular, the overall team composition never looked settled.
India must develop a long-term strategic vision from the coaching staff. Batsmen will have to improve their defensive and attacking skills against spin, especially on turning tracks. The team also needs to develop a genuine fast bowling all-rounder to bring the required balance and depth to the playing eleven.
Also read: Venkatesh Prasad blames Gautam Gambhir for ruining Indian Test team, WV Raman agrees: “Can’t work on such ego…”
