'We will continue to...': Shubman Gill finally breaks silence after India's Test series sweep against South Africa

Despite missing the second Test due to a neck injury, skipper Shubman Gill struck a defiant tone of unity and resolve following India's humiliating 0-2 series loss to South Africa. The series ended with a clean sweep for the visitors, who defeated the hosts by 408 runs in the second Test at Guwahati, securing their first series win on Indian soil in 25 years. This followed their initial 30-run victory in the opening Test in Kolkata.

We’ll continue to believe in each other, fight for each other: Shubman Gill

The embarrassing defeat triggered widespread criticism, intense discussion about the team's performance and leadership, and visible frustration, including fans booing coach Gautam Gambhir. Responding to the setback, Gill posted a message of solidarity on 'X': "Calm seas don't teach you how to steer, it's the storm that forges steady hands. We'll continue to believe in each other, fight for each other, and move forward - rising stronger."

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Gill himself was hampered by injury during the series. He had retired hurt on four after suffering a neck spasm in India's first innings of the Eden Test and was subsequently hospitalized and ruled out of the rest of that match. Although he traveled with the squad to Guwahati, he was ultimately released on the eve of the second Test.

While head coach Gautam Gambhir avoided naming any individual for the debilitating 408-run defeat against South Africa in the second Test, he dropped enough strong hints that he was furious with India's stand-in skipper, Rishabh Pant, for "playing to the gallery."

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You don't blame one individual, You blame everyone: Gambhir

The team was cruising at 95 for one before things rapidly deteriorated, with the hosts left stuttering at 122 for seven, largely due to the bowling exploits of Marco Jansen. Pant's dismissal was arguably the most egregious; he attempted to charge Jansen when discretion was sorely needed. This shot was possibly the worst of all the dismissals. Following the 0-2 series defeat, Gambhir was directly asked if he would have expected better from Pant, who is now just one match short of 50 Tests.

"You don't blame one individual shot. You don't blame one individual playing in a certain way. You blame everyone. So, me talking about an individual, I've never done that. I am not going to do it," Gambhir said in the post-match press conference.