India is staring at a humiliating series whitewash against South Africa after a batting collapse on Day 3 of the second Test in Guwahati. With South Africa extending their lead by stumps, the spotlight has turned sharply onto head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose tenure is now marred by the prospect of a second home series defeat in just over a year.
Former India captain Ravi Shastri launched a scathing attack on the team management's erratic selection policies under Gambhir, specifically questioning the handling of Washington Sundar. After batting at number three in the Kolkata Test, Sundar was demoted to number eight in Guwahati to accommodate Sai Sudharsan, a move Shastri termed baffling.
"Absolutely not. It makes no sense. I can’t figure out the reasoning," Shastri said on commentary. He further criticized the lack of logic in recent decisions, adding, "In Kolkata you picked four spinners and one of them bowled only a single over... And here, after making Washington bat at three in the last Test, you could’ve slotted him at four today... He’s not a number eight. He’s much better than that."
The criticism intensified with spinner and former head coach Anil Kumble lambasting the batters for a lack of application on a pitch described as a "road" by Kuldeep Yadav. Kumble pointed out that the dismissals of Dhruv Jurel and Sudharsan via "half-hearted" shots indicated a failure to respect the opposition. "I felt India’s batting effort was quite poor. The application and patience required in Test cricket were missing," Kumble stated.
He pointed at the team's inability to handle Jansen's bounce, noting, "When he started bowling bouncers... India appeared unprepared to either leave or take the blows. That approach is essential in Test cricket to survive challenging spells, but unfortunately, it was lacking in India’s approach today."
Compounding the tactical confusion was the reckless nature of the dismissals, starting with stand-in captain Rishabh Pant. In a moment that stunned observers, Pant charged at Jansen only to edge the ball to the wicketkeeper, departing for just 7 when the team needed stability.
This "self-destruct" approach sparked immediate outrage among fans, leading to 'Sack Gambhir' trending on social media platforms. Supporters expressed frustration over the team's regression, noting that under Gambhir, India suffered a 0-3 sweep against New Zealand last year and now faces a similar fate against a South African side that hasn't won a series in India since 2000.
While India faltered, former Proteas pacer Dale Steyn praised the visitors for their complete control, remarking, "It’s rare to witness a visiting side dominate three days of cricket in India like this. In my view, their strategy and execution in these Guwahati conditions have outshone India’s efforts."
