South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has shared his views on India’s struggle in Test cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Bavuma said India is going through a transition in the red-ball format and added that the results in white-ball cricket could help Gambhir find a way to rebuild India’s Test team.
India’s strong home record in Test cricket has declined in recent years. After going unbeaten at home for 12 years, New Zealand stunned them in 2024 with a 3-0 win in the three-match Test series. South Africa also won the Test series in India last year, their first win in red-ball cricket on Indian soil since 2000.
However, under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir, India won the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. The poor Test results have raised concerns, with India placed fifth in the current World Test Championship standings.
There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir’s shoulders – Temba Bavuma
In a column for ESPNcricinfo, Temba Bavuma compared India’s Test struggle to South Africa’s phase in 2019 after losing several senior players. Bavuma said that Gautam Gambhir is under immense pressure and will need patience to keep the team stable in red-ball cricket.
“When it comes to the red ball, India are definitely a changeable team. If I think about the Proteas Test team in 2019 – which is just seven years ago – we went through the same type of process or phase when we lost some of our big guns. So there is nothing unique about where India find themselves in Test cricket.” Bavuma wrote in his column for ESPN Cricinfo..
“There is a lot of pressure on the shoulders of India coach Gautam Gambhir and I think he will have to cope with it. He will have to find a way to carve out time for himself in the red-ball game and I believe his performances in white-ball cricket can help him,” he said.
I’m not really in favor of that rule – Temba Bavuma on sacking Gautam Gambhir as Test coach
Bavuma said he does not support the split-coaching system, saying it could create confusion for players. He also said that the Proteas tried to separate the red-ball and white-ball coaching roles in 2023, noting that the idea seemed logical at the time.
Bavuma said, “Some may be over-spoken about the statement that Gambhir should perhaps take over the white-ball responsibilities and someone else should carry out the Test cricket duties. Splitting the red and white-ball coaching roles was something we considered within the Proteas set-up in 2023.”
“There was wisdom behind the split rule at that time. But now having one coach in all formats works much better for the players from a continuity point of view. Also, from a philosophy and playing style point of view it is beneficial. I don’t think too many teams are going with the split format system now, and to be honest, I’m not really in favor of that rule.”
Gautam Gambhir controls his current group of Test players – Temba Bavuma
Temba Bavuma said Gautam Gambhir needs to show confidence in his Test players, adding that they should perform when the team needs them most. Bavuma said the team should accept the tough times on overseas tours and remain focused on long-term goals.
“The way the serious Test players handle their current group of players, I think it would be best to be clear and say: “Guys, it’s going to be a tough few months on overseas tours, but we must focus on the long term.” But they have to back their horses and, at some point, those horses have to get out of their pens and gallop for them,” claimed the veteran.
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