Temba Bavuma backs Gautam Gambhir amid India’s Test struggles

India’s struggles in Test cricket under Gautam Gambhir have intensified scrutiny on his tenure, especially after the team suffered two home Test series defeats, with both ending in whitewashes. Yet, amid growing debate, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to persist with Gambhir as India’s Test coach, arguing that the side is going through an unavoidable transition phase.

India’s most recent setback came in November, when South Africa comprehensively outplayed them at home. That defeat came after a similarly chastening series loss against New Zealand the previous year, a result that carried historic weight, as it marked the first time India were whitewashed at home in a Test series of three or more matches. The fallout was significant, triggering the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, three pillars of India’s red-ball dominance over the past decade.

Bavuma believes the absence of that experienced trio has played a major role in India’s recent decline. With Kohli, Rohit, and Ashwin gone, Gambhir is tasked with managing multiple challenges, simultaneously guiding a young captain in Shubman Gill, overseeing the transition from one of India’s greatest spinners, and managing the workload of Jasprit Bumrah, a bowler whose value is matched only by concerns over his fitness.

The Proteas Test captain stressed that India should not expect an immediate turnaround in Test cricket. He described the current setup as a team in flux, pointing out gaps in key positions and the time required for replacements to settle. He noted that India are still searching for stability at No. 3, that Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling has lacked the same edge without Ashwin, and that Washington Sundar will need patience as he finds his footing in red-ball cricket.

“You saw how India performed in the ODI space with their two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, versus in the Test game, where those two weren’t available for selection. When it comes to the red-ball stuff, India are definitely a team in transition.

India coach Gautam Gambhir has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and I think he is going to have to take it as it comes. He is going to have to find a way to buy himself time in the red-ball game, and I’m of the view that the performances in white-ball cricket may assist him.

In ODIs, Kohli and Rohit will naturally take on a lot more responsibility from a performance and leadership point of view. So I think Gambhir will be okay in terms of his position. However, from a red-ball point of view, it’s going to be tough for this Indian team in the near future,” Bavuma wrote in a column for ESPNcricinfo.

Despite India’s Test woes, Gambhir’s record in white-ball cricket stands in sharp contrast. Under his leadership, India have enjoyed success in limited-overs formats, including triumphs in the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. This has led to suggestions that Gambhir should continue as white-ball coach while a different figure handles the Test side.

Bavuma, however, is firmly against splitting coaching roles. Drawing from South Africa’s own experience in 2023, he argued that having separate coaches for red and white-ball cricket often leads to mixed messaging and confusion among players. He pointed out that leading teams such as England, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand have largely moved away from the split-coach model in favour of continuity.

"Some may speak more to the narrative that Gambhir should perhaps carry on with the white-ball stuff and let someone else fulfil the Test cricket duties. Splitting the red- and white-ball coaching roles was something we gave a go within the Proteas set-up back in 2023.

At the time, there was sense behind the split rule. But now having one coach across all formats works a lot better for players from a continuity point of view. Moreover, it’s advantageous from a philosophy and playing style point of view. I don’t think a lot of teams are going with the split-format system anymore, and to be honest, I’m not really in favour of that rule. If anything, it just confuses the players, because in one format a certain type of language is spoken, and then in another format, a couple of weeks later, you need to adjust,” the Proteas captain further wrote.

Looking ahead, Bavuma advised Gambhir to adopt a direct and transparent approach with his Test players. He believes honesty about the challenges of transition is essential and that players must be prepared for short-term setbacks. Gambhir, he suggested, should back those he believes in and allow time for development, even if results do not come immediately.

“In terms of the way Gambhir controls his current group of Test players, I think it would be best to be clear and say: ‘Guys, it’s going to be a tough few months on away tours, but let’s focus on the long term.’ But he is going to have to back his horses and, at some point, those horses are going to have to exit their pens and gallop for him,” Bavuma concluded.