India may have drawn first blood in the Ranchi ODI against South Africa, but head coach Gautam Gambhir continues to remain under a cloud of criticism following the recent Test series debacle. India were blanked 2-0 by the Proteas, adding to an already tense atmosphere around Gambhir’s leadership. Since taking charge, he has overseen two home Test series defeats, first against New Zealand and now against South Africa, prompting fans to vent their frustration at the former opener. The anger reached a flashpoint after the crushing 408-run defeat in Guwahati, where sections of the crowd began chanting ‘Gambhir Aye Haye’. The situation escalated so rapidly that batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj had to step in to pacify the spectators. Adding fuel to the fire, fans continue to debate Gambhir’s equations with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and many have even begun speculating about the ODI futures of both senior players.
Amid this growing unrest, former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who shared the 2011 World Cup dressing room with Gambhir, urged the coach to toughen up and face the criticism calmly. “Emotions run high. When you’ve been winning consistently, expectations rise. Accountability will always follow,” Zaheer told Cricbuzz. He added that the role naturally invites scrutiny and that Gambhir must learn to remain balanced and handle public backlash with resilience. “You’ve got to be thick-skinned to deal with these kinds of criticism. It comes with the passion and expectations surrounding the team,” he said. India’s recent form under Gambhir has not helped his cause. The team lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka last year, followed by a surprise whitewash in New Zealand. Overall, India have lost five of their last seven Tests with Gambhir at the helm.Zaheer further stressed that Gambhir must be more open about his vision, saying that supporters appreciate honesty and clarity regarding selection choices and long-term plans. Gambhir has been criticised for fielding too many all-rounders in the Test XI at the cost of specialists. He also drew sharp reactions for preparing a rank turner in Kolkata against South Africa, despite India previously suffering a 0-3 defeat on similar surfaces in New Zealand. Zaheer suggested that communication is key. “Disappointment comes because everyone knows the team can perform better. It’s a phase, and emotions naturally rise. That’s why the team management needs to engage with fans openly. They understand more than people think,” he said. He concluded by saying that as long as the team sticks to a process aimed at sustainable success, transparency will help ease frustration among supporters. “If the team is clearer and more vocal about its thought process, the fans will understand where they’re coming from. It’s important not to get carried away,” Zaheer added.
