India's struggles in Test cricket under Gautam Gambhir have intensified scrutiny on his tenure, especially after the team suffered two home Test series defeats, with both ending in whitewashes. Yet, amid growing debate, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI to persist with Gambhir as India's Test coach, arguing that the side is going through an unavoidable transition phase.
India's most recent setback came in November, when South Africa comprehensively outplayed them at home. That defeat came after a similarly chastening series loss against New Zealand the previous year, a result that carried historic weight, as it marked the first time India were whitewashed at home in a Test series of three or more matches. The fallout was significant, triggering the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, three pillars of India's red-ball dominance over the past decade.
Bavuma believes the absence of that experienced trio has played a major role in India's recent decline. With Kohli, Rohit, and Ashwin gone, Gambhir is tasked with managing multiple challenges, simultaneously guiding a young captain in Shubman Gill, overseeing the transition from one of India's greatest spinners, and managing the workload of Jasprit Bumrah, a bowler whose value is matched only by concerns over his fitness.
