BCCI decide against sacking Gautam Gambhir despite India getting whitewashed by South Africa: Report

India’s dismal performance in the recent Test series against South Africa isn’t likely to lead to knee-jerk actions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) despite the clamour for the removal of head coach Gautam Gambhir growing louder than ever.

India suffered a 0-2 whitewash at the hands of the Temba Bavuma-led Proteas on Wednesday with a 408-run thrashing at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium, getting bowled out for 140 after being set a mammoth 549 to win. It was the second time in the span of a year that India had been whitewashed on home soil, having lost to New Zealand 0-3 last year.

Together with the 3-1 series loss in Australia, India have lost three major Test assignments since former opener Gambhir took over as head coach in July last year, their performance graph in the five-day format nosediving during this period.

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The BCCI, however, are in no mood to make any sweeping decisions at the moment despite the removal of Gambhir, and even chief selector Ajit Agarkar, dominating discussion on social media.

“The BCCI will not rush in taking any decision, the team is in a transition phase. As far as coach Gautam Gambhir is concerned, we will not take any decision on him as the World Cup is around the corner and his contract is till the 2027 World Cup. The BCCI will speak to selectors and team management going ahead but there won’t be any knee jerk action,” a BCCI official was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

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Gambhir, meanwhile, remained defiant despite the Indian team facing its worst crisis in the Test format since it made its debut in 1932.

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While he maintained the his future as India head coach was in the hands of the board in the post-match press conference in Guwahati, Gambhir reminded reporters of his success in the white-ball arena, with the Men in Blue winning the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup under his watch.

“It is for the BCCI to decide. Indian cricket is important, I am not important,” Gambhir said during Wednesday’s press conference after India suffered their fifth defeat in seven home Tests.

“People keep forgetting it. I am the same guy who got results in England with a young team. You guys will forget very soon. A lot of people keep talking about New Zealand. I am the same guy under whom we won the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup as well.

“This is a team which has less experience and I have said it before, they need to keep learning and they are doing everything possible to turn the tide,” the former Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders mentor added.