After getting mauled by South Africa in the Test series, India’s long-standing reputation as an invincible force at home has shattered, bringing an unprecedented storm of scrutiny upon head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Gautam Gambhir in the soup after India's hammering in Test series vs SA
For years, touring teams from SENA nations struggled to find their footing on Indian soil, often succumbing to the conditions. However, the narrative has shifted drastically, with these same sides now securing victories with alarming ease. This decline was punctuated by a brutal 0-2 whitewash against South Africa, India’s second home series wipeout in just 13 months, both occurring under Gambhir's watch. The statistics paint a grim picture of this new reality; under his tenure, India has lost five of their last seven home Tests, a scenario that would have been considered unimaginable only a few years ago.
The situation reached a nadir following a crushing 408-run defeat in the second Test at Guwahati. In response to the mounting criticism, Gambhir has attempted to defend his leadership by highlighting his successes in other formats, specifically pointing to triumphs in the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup, as well as a drawn Test series in England. Despite these achievements, the general consensus suggests that limited-overs silverware is not enough to paper over the deepening cracks within the Test squad, particularly given the magnitude of recent defeats at home.
India should have a separate red-ball coach: Manoj Tiwary
Adding significant weight to the backlash, former cricketer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwary has issued a strong call for the BCCI to reconsider who is guiding India’s red-ball team. Tiwary identified a lack of stability as the root cause of the current debacle, explicitly blaming frequent selection changes, confused strategic planning, and the absence of a steady process under Gambhir. His comments reflect a growing sentiment that without a fundamental rethink of the coaching structure, the team's slide in Test cricket may continue unchecked.
“To be honest, the writing was on the wall. It had to happen. I knew things were not going well; the process they want to follow is not the right strategy or plan. There was a lot of chopping and changing, which was very evident. That could have been in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the home series against New Zealand, and now against South Africa,” Manoj Tiwary was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
In addition to his scathing critique of the current management, Tiwary also proposed a structural change to protect the team’s integrity in the longest format. He strongly advocated for appointing a separate, dedicated coach specifically for Test cricket. Tiwary believes this specialized approach is the only way to safeguard and restore India’s rapidly slipping standards in red-ball cricket.
"Absolutely. There is no question about it. (whether India should have a separate red-ball coach). It's high time they take this decision to save Indian Test cricket. That's the bottom line,” he further added.
It is very unfortunate to see a white-ball mentor leading India as a head coach: Tiwary on Gambhir
Tiwary did not stop at criticizing the home losses; he also took aim at one of Gambhir’s key defenses: the drawn Test series in England. He openly questioned whether that result could genuinely be considered an achievement. Tiwary argued that India, possessing the stronger squad overall, did not secure the result through merit but was instead 'saved' on the final day when the English team suffered a critical collapse, preventing what would have otherwise been a decisive victory for the hosts.
“There is no great achievement in his tenure so far. I saw a clip of him (Gautam Gambhir) claiming that he has won the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. This team was built by Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and, before that, Virat Kohli. Even if Gambhir wasn't the coach of Team India for these two tournaments, India would have won anyway because the team was already made.”
“It is very unfortunate to see a white-ball mentor leading India as a head coach. If you don't have the experience at the ground level, how do you expect to give results at the top level? It is next to impossible,” Tiwary concluded.