'Sack Gambhir': Head coach under fire after India lose home Test against South Africa after 15 years

Gautam Gambhir’s decision making as the head coach is under fire on social media as South Africa beat India by 30 runs in the opening Test of the series on Sunday to register their first win on Indian soil since 2010.

Chasing 124 in the second innings, India were bowled out for a paltry 93 with off-spinner Simon Harmer doing the majority of the damage with four wickets.

With this loss, India have now lost four of their last six home Tests under Gambhir and fans want accountability. The two wins too came against lower-ranked West Indies.

Sack Gautam Gambhir & bring VVS Laxman as test coach, that is the solution.

Gambhir has lost more tests than win. Made us lose BGT after 10 years, home 0-3 defeat vs NZ-C & now lost to South Africa. Shameful!! pic.twitter.com/DeloBNqorr

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) November 16, 2025

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The problem is Ind media and Ind fans are too forgiving if Ind win ICC white ball tournaments. The state of cricket in the country is not decided by white ball ICC tournament wins. It's decided by where you stand in the test game. Gambhir has been horrible as coach.

— Sam Roy (@SamRoy84) November 16, 2025

it's time to sack gambhir , otherwise hopes of reaching in final of wtc27 is also gone

— Om Jadhav (@jadhav_om41327) November 16, 2025

Like this tweet if you think Gautam Gambhir is the worst ever coach of India. pic.twitter.com/6CXAQOeuRC

— ` (@Itz_Bl3ze) November 16, 2025

Like this Tweet if you want BCCI to drop Gautam Gambhir from Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/EwWgN4Sgif

— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) November 16, 2025

India won only 2 home test matches out of 6 played. All credit goes to greatest red ball coach Gautam Gambhir. pic.twitter.com/sZ6UJVGl1X

— abhay singh (@abhaysingh_13) November 16, 2025

 Temba Bavuma masterclass

Earlier in the day, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma dished out a batting masterclass on a treacherous Eden Gardens surface. Bavuma remained unbeaten on 55 off 136 deliveries to steer South Africa to a respectable total of 153 before they were bowled out. Bavuma’s was the only half-century in the game.

Thanks to their 30-run first innings lead, India needed to chase only 124 to win the match. However, Proteas bowling attack led by Harmer managed to defend South Africa’s lowest target since 1994 when they defended 117 against Australia in Sydney.

This is also now the lowest target that India have failed to chase successfully in a home Test and second lowest in all Tests after 120 against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1997.

With this win Bavuma now has 10 wins and a draw in his 11 matches as South Africa skipper.