Things heated up between Indian speedster Mohammed Siraj and a section of Indian fans at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati after the fans began shouting “Gambhir Haaye Haaye” following the completion of the IND vs SA Test.
The Indian Test team dipped to a new low as they were slammed by 408 runs by Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in the IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati. This is India’s largest margin of defeat by runs in their Test cricket history.
Once almost an invincible team in home conditions—India lost only four home Test matches from 2013 to September 2024—the Indian Test side has been whitewashed 3-0 (by New Zealand) and 2-0 (by South Africa) in the past 13 months under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Earlier, India lost 3-1 to Australia in Australia, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy slipping from their hands for the first time since 2017, and drew 2-2 in England while failing to capitalize on key moments in the series.
What’s hurting the Indian fans the most is the string of home Test defeats – India have now lost five of their last two home Tests and endured two whitewashes – which included New Zealand’s maiden Test series win in India and South Africa’s first in 25 years. On top of it, Gambhir’s words in press conferences have never been becalming for the fans.
This hurt came to the fore when fans at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati attacked Gambhir with slogans of “Gambhir Haaye Haaye” ahead of the post-match presentation ceremony.
As the chants of the crowd grew louder, the Indian players and staff took notice of it. While Gambhir didn’t react back, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj shushed the crowd, gesturing to stop shouting this particular slogan.
But when the fans didn’t relent, Siraj came near the stands and had a go at one fan in particular who seemed to be marshalling the slogans against Gambhir. A member of the support staff, too, expressed his annoyance with the chants.
Watch: Fans chant “Gambhir Haaye Haaye” in Guwahati, Mohammed Siraj defends coach
Meanwhile, Gambhir’s position as the Test coach has become untenable, with India now slipping to the fifth spot in the ICC WTC 2025-27 cycle, and their route to the final becoming tougher with this home series loss.
When asked in the post-match press conference whether he thinks he should continue to be the Test team coach, Gambhir responded, “It is up to BCCI to decide,” lacking the bold self-confidence that defines him.
Weirdly, Gambhir also counted out some of India’s victories in white-ball cricket in his tenure.
He said, “I’m the same guy who got results in England as well, with a young team. And I’m the same guy under whom [we] won Champions Trophy and Asia Cup as well.”
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