ENG vs IND 2025: 'He gets hate unnecessarily' - Irfan Pathan defends Gautam Gambhir

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come out in support of head coach Gautam Gambhir following India’s emphatic 336-run victory over England in the second Test at Edgbaston. The win helped India level the five-match series at 1-1.

Irfan expressed that Gambhir often receives unnecessary criticism, pointing out that no one, especially someone in a leadership role, wants the team to lose. He highlighted that England had also scored 400 runs in the first innings, and while India was at 400 with six wickets down, a crucial partnership involving Washington Sundar shifted the momentum.

"I feel Gautam Gambhir gets hate unnecessarily. No one wants the team to lose sitting there. He also wants them to win. He also wants to make decisions that benefit the team. England also made 400 in the first innings. India were at 400 and had lost six wickets and then came a 100 plus stand involving Sundar. If a similar collapse to the first Test had happened there, then it would be a leveled battle after the first innings. That opportunity was taken from England because of a big partnership. England were almost out of the game," Irfan said on YouTube Channel.

"The move to play Sundar worked in the batting. In bowling as well he took the important wicket of Ben Stokes when a partnership was going on. Everyone knows what he can do. These small contributions are important in the game," he added.

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Irfan questioned the narrative that India was not focused on taking 20 wickets simply because Kuldeep Yadav was not part of the playing XI. He emphasised that a player’s impact cannot be judged until they actually get a chance to bowl or bat.

"It was being said that India is not thinking about 20 wickets because Kuldeep is not playing. How did you decide it? I had posted on X that I don't think Washington playing is a negative. It is positive. Till he doesn't bowl or bat you don't know. Till the whole team doesn't bowl, how come they don't have the ability to pick 20 wickets? They do and it is seen. You make your mind before itself, there were several questions before itself," Irfan said.