Sunil Gavaskar defends Gautam Gambhir and says India’s players must take responsibility for South Africa defeat
Sunil Gavaskar has come out in strong support of head coach Gautam Gambhir after India’s home Test defeat to South Africa. He said it was unfair to blame the coach alone and added that players must take responsibility for their own failures on the field.
After India’s disappointing Test series loss to South Africa, criticism was directed at coach Gautam Gambhir’s strategies and team selections. However, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar dismissed the idea that Gambhir should be singled out and said that the defeat was primarily the result of players not performing to expected standards.
Gavaskar pointed out that coaches can prepare, plan and guide, but they cannot bat, bowl or field for the team. He said that India’s batting collapses, lack of partnerships and poor shot selection were key reasons behind the loss and these issues fall on the players rather than the support staff. According to him, even the best strategies fail when players do not execute their roles with discipline.
He also highlighted that cricket goes through phases and that teams must be patient while young players learn to adapt. With India currently in a transition period, Gavaskar said the focus should be on giving players confidence instead of engaging in blame games. He added that Gambhir has always been committed to Indian cricket and deserves fair evaluation rather than instant criticism.
Gavaskar’s comments add to a growing list of senior voices urging a balanced assessment of India’s performance. While fans expressed disappointment at the margin of defeat, experts believe the solution lies in better execution, consistency and patience as the team rebuilds its core for future series.
About the Author
