After Gautam Gambhir’s team suffered a 408-run loss against South Africa national cricket team in the second Test at Guwahati — India’s largest defeat by runs in Test history — criticism mounted against Gambhir. The two-match series ended in a 0–2 whitewash at home, and many fans and former players started demanding his removal. The chants of “Gautam Gambhir hay hay” were reportedly heard outside the stadium, reflecting the anger and frustration of supporters.
Amid this backlash, former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin publicly defended Gambhir, arguing that it was unfair to place full blame on the coach alone.
Ashwin’s Stand: Coach Isn’t the One Holding the Bat
Ashwin emphasised that while a coach can guide, plan and strategise — he cannot himself “pick up the bat” or perform on the field; that responsibility lies squarely with the players. As he put it, “a coach cannot pick up the bat and go out to play. He can only do his job, talk to the players — that’s all.”
He asked a blunt question: “What can a coach do? … Put yourself in the coach’s position.” According to him, while decision-making (by coach and captain) matters, the skill to execute — to bat, bowl or field under pressure — is entirely the players’ domain. And in his view, the players did not show adequate responsibility, consistency or accountability to justify blaming only the coach.
Ashwin used a metaphor in Tamil to underline his point: “if you have flour, you can make chapatis or rotis. If you don’t have flour, how will you make rotis?” By that he meant — if the players lack skill or temperament, no amount of good coaching will help them succeed.
Not About Loyalty — About Fairness and Collective Responsibility
Ashwin clarified that his support was not born out of personal loyalty or friendship. “It’s not about supporting anyone — Gautam is not my relative,” he said plainly. He admitted that mistakes are inevitable: “Yes, mistakes happen, but anybody can make them. It’s just that when they cost you, they become very expensive.”
However, he argued that sacking the coach or launching personal attacks isn’t the solution to the deeper problems affecting the team. According to him, the recurring failures reflect systemic issues — inconsistent performances, mental fragility under pressure, poor execution — which cannot be fixed by changing just one individual. He urged more calm, introspection, and collective accountability instead of seeking quick scapegoats.
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