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Indian cricket endured a dark afternoon in Guwahati as South Africa clinched a historic 408-run win to seal a 2-0 series sweep, triggering rare, angry scenes in the stands where fans targeted head coach Gautam Gambhir with “Gautam Gambhir haaye haaye” chants. The backlash has intensified scrutiny on Gambhir’s position, even as the former opener defended his tenure and placed the onus on the BCCI to decide his future.
Fans express anger over India head coach Gautam Gambhir
The second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, the first-ever red-ball game at the venue, turned into a nightmare for home supporters as India slumped to their heaviest defeat by runs in Test history, bundled out to lose by 408 runs while chasing a mammoth 549. The result not only handed South Africa their first Test series win in India in 25 years but also completed a 2-0 sweep, following their victory in the opening Test at Kolkata.
As the South African camp celebrated a landmark triumph that lifted them to the upper rungs of the World Test Championship standings, the mood in the stands was toxic, with sections of the Guwahati crowd booing the Indian team management and loudly chanting “Gautam Gambhir haaye haaye” as the players walked off. Mohammed Siraj was seen gesturing towards the spectators to calm down, raising his hand to signal silence, while assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak moved close to the boundary rope and tried to pacify the fans amid heavy security presence.
The jeers reflected deeper frustrations over India’s recent home record, with this defeat marking their fifth loss in seven home Tests and a second straight series loss to a SENA side after last year’s whitewash by New Zealand, an unprecedented dip for a team long considered near-invincible in its own conditions. Ravindra Jadeja’s fighting half-century and sporadic resistance from the lower order could not prevent another collapse against South Africa’s spinners, with Simon Harmer leading the charge in the final innings.
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Gambhir under fire as future left to BCCI
In the immediate aftermath, Gambhir’s role as head coach became the focal point of debate, with questions swirling over whether he remains the right man to steer India’s Test transition. Franchise co-owner Parth Jindal publicly called for separate coaching staff for the Test side after India’s slide down to fifth in the new World Test Championship cycle, amplifying calls for a reset in red-ball thinking.
Facing a pointed query in the post-match press conference about his suitability as Test coach, Gambhir reiterated that his personal position is secondary to the interests of Indian cricket and stressed that any decision rests solely with the BCCI. He reminded critics of his record, referencing India’s series success in England with a younger group, as well as major titles like the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup won during his stint in charge in white-ball formats, arguing that his overall body of work should not be overshadowed by a single disastrous home campaign.
Even so, the scale of the Guwahati defeat, combined with an unbeaten Temba Bavuma-led South Africa scripting history on Indian soil, has sharpened the narrative that India’s Test side is in flux and in urgent need of structural answers. With emotions running high in the stands and pressure mounting from stakeholders, the spotlight now shifts to the BCCI’s next move on Gambhir’s future and how the board plans to arrest India’s steep decline in the longest format.
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