Following the team's first-ever home Test series defeat to New Zealand, former India coach Ravi Shastri publicly defended current Indian coach Gautam Gambhir. After losing consecutive Test matches against Tom Latham's team in Bengaluru and Pune, India gave up the Test series. Just before the important Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the coach and captain were criticized by the supporters for their dismal performance at home.
Notwithstanding the outcome, Ravi Shastri supported the current head coach by stating that Gautam Gambhir still has plenty of time left because he is still in the early stages of his coaching career with the national team.
"New Zealand have beaten them (India) handsomely in both the Test matches. It's food for thought (on series loss). He (Gambhir) has just taken over the job. It's never easy being coach of a team that has such a big following. It's still early days in his career as a coach. But he'll soon learn," Shastri said, while on commentary during the second Test in Pune.
For the first time in twelve years, Team India suffered a home Test series defeat. New Zealand took a 103-run lead after batting first and scoring 259 in the first innings of the second Test. They then bundled out the hosts for just 156. The best bowler was spinner Mitchell Santner, who took seven wickets in the first innings and was named Player of the Match. The Kiwis then scored 255 more runs in the second innings, giving India a 359-run goal to salvage the series.
The home team had a strong start to the chase but was unable to maintain their momentum as they lost the game due to a batting collapse. With one Test remaining, Santner was the wrecker-in-chief once more, taking six wickets as India was bowled out for 245 to lose the match by 113 runs and the series. In order to finish the series with a bang, Gautam Gambhir and India will now turn their attention to Mumbai and the storied Wankhede Stadium for the third and final Test match against New Zealand.
