India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under intense scrutiny after the team slumped to a second consecutive home Test series under his tenure after losing to South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati on 26 November. Criticism has mainly focused on India’s increasing reliance on all-rounders at the expense of specialist batsmen and bowlers – a strategy that has repeatedly failed in recent months.
IND vs. SA, Test 2, Highlights of Day 5 | Scorecard
India fielded four all-rounders in the opening Test in Kolkata and three in Guwahati, a selection that quickly disintegrated as the side failed to provide stability in either department. Despite the defeat in Calcutta, the overall approach remained largely unchanged in the second Test, prompting a wave of backlash from former players who believe it has eroded the identity of the Test team.
Anil Kumble, speaking on the official broadcast, was tight-lipped when he questioned India’s muddled Test philosophy and lack of continuity. “Test match cricket requires a different mindset, you can’t really have so many all-rounders, so many chops and changes, so many changes in the batting order, in the team itself. Every other match, when a new player comes in, a few guys drop out,” he said.
Kumble also emphasized the need for long-term clarity, especially after the departure of senior players like Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma from the Test arena over the past year. “You need to discuss how you see the development of Indian Test cricket. When the stalwarts retire, you need a vision of what the team needs to do,” he added.
Former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad, one of the most vocal critics of India’s direction, launched a scathing attack on X. In his first post, he called the Indian all-rounder’s addiction “absolute brain drain” and wrote: “Bad tactics, bad skills, bad body language and an unprecedented 2-run lime at home.”
Shortly after, Prasad doubled down with a stronger message, dismissing claims that India was struggling due to the transition. “We can’t hide under the cloak of transition. Apart from Sudarshan, Jurel and Reddy, most of the boys are around 7-8. Some very experienced fighters. It’s a series of tactical mistakes, obsession with playing all-rounders and not wanting to learn from mistakes. Embarrassing,” he wrote.
Gambhir, meanwhile, defended the team’s selection philosophy, insisting that character matters more than flair. “To succeed in Test cricket, you don’t need the most skilful and flamboyant players. You need the toughest characters – with limited skills – who will succeed regardless of the conditions and the situation,” he told the post-match press conference.
With India now facing a seven-month delay before its next Test assignment, the debate about balance, stability and long-term planning will only intensify. Currently, the pressure is firm Gambhir to rethink his template and restore clarity to a format where India once prided itself on depth, consistency and discipline.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
November 26, 2025
