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India head coach Gautam Gambhir didn't hold back as he launched a fierce attack on his critics following India's dominant 9-wicket victory in the third and final ODI against South Africa in Vizag on Saturday. India clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1 with their thumping win in Vizag as they bounced back to winning ways after a dismal 2-0 whitewash in the recently concluded Test series against the Proteas.
While he admitted results have not gone in India's favour in Tests, Gambhir lashed out at an 'IPL owner' for crossing the line and suggesting split coaching. The India head coach didn't name him, but his comments were clearly directed at Delhi Capitals (DC) co-owner Parth Jindal, who had criticised Gambhir after India's 2-0 loss in the Test series against South Africa and suggested a specialist red-ball coach for the national team.
Gambhir was on the firing line ahead of the ODI series against South Africa, with many questioning his future as India's head coach after the team's 2-0 whitewash in the Test series at home. However, the India coach responded strongly by helping his team thrash the visitors 2-1 in the ODIs.
"There were a few things said by people, who didn’t have any connection to cricket. One IPL owner also wrote about split coaching. This is very surprising. It’s important for people to stay in their domain. We don’t go into their domain. So, they have no right to interfere in our domain," Gambhir said, targeting DC co-owner Jindal without naming him during the post-match presser after India's 9-wicket win in Vizag.
Jindal has taken to X to criticise Gambhir and suggest a specialist red-ball coach for India after the hosts were clean-swept in the two-match Test series by South Africa at home. It was India's second home Test series defeat under Gambhir. India have lost five of their last seven Test matches at home under the present head coach.
While India have enjoyed significant success under Gambhir in white-ball cricket, the head coach has failed to replicate the results in Test cricket. India won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup this year under Gambhir and are set to head into the T20 World Cup 2026 as one of the favourites.
However, it's the horrendous run in Tests that has constantly led to questions about Gambhir's future. Addressing the criticism over India's poor record under him in the longest format, Gambhir blamed skipper Shubman Gill's injury for the 2-0 defeat in the Test series against South Africa.
Gill missed both Tests after suffering a neck injury while batting on Day 2 of the series opener in Kolkata. Without the in-form batter, who slammed over 700 runs in the Test series against England earlier this year, India crumbled under pressure in both matches. Gambhir said no media house mentioned how Gill's absence cost India in the Test series.
"A lot has been said, no doubt. Yes, results haven’t gone our way. But, the most shocking part about all this is not one media house, not one journalist mentioned that the first Test we played, we were without our captain, who didn’t bat in both innings. The difference was 30 runs. I don’t come and give excuses in the press conference, that doesn’t mean that you all won’t bring out the facts to the world," said Gambhir.
"When you are going through transition, and when you lose your captain, who is also an in-form batter, who has scored around 1000 runs in the last six Test matches. When you are facing a quality opposition and you lose your captain midway through a Test, it becomes difficult. The most surprising part was no one discussed this. All that was discussed was about the pitch, I don’t know what else people said," he added.
Gambhir had criticised India's poor batting show in both Kolkata and Guwahati after their defeats in the two Test matches against South Africa, while insisting that the team is in transition in Tests and needs time to deliver results. The India head coach appeared relieved after his team's 2-1 victory in the ODI series.
On Saturday, India rode on an unbeaten maiden ODI ton from Yashasvi Jaiswal and half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to comfortably chase down the target of 271 runs and register a big win. Jaiswal slammed 116 off 121 balls, while Rohit hammered 75 off 73 balls. Continuing his red-hot form, Kohli remained unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls to guide India to victory.
