Sourav Ganguly drops bombshell on Gautam Gambhir’s future as India’s Test coach

Gautam Gambhir is facing serious pressure after India’s unexpected defeat to South Africa in the first Test concluded in less than three days in Kolkata on Sunday. The Indian team is at risk of enduring another Test series defeat on home soil. Under Gambhir’s leadership, the team’s performance in the Test format was unsatisfactory.

While India look to bounce back and at least equalize the two-match series with a stronger performance in the second Test in Guwahati, former skipper Sourav Ganguly believes it is too early to consider Gambhir’s potential removal as head coach. “There is no question of Gautam Gambhir being sacked at this stage,” he said, praising both the coach and the captain for their “outstanding” performance in England.

“Gautam as coach and Shubman as captain have been tremendously successful in England on good batting pitches and I firmly believe they can do well in India as well,” he concluded.

Following India’s second innings collapse, in which they were dismissed for just 93 runs while trying to chase a target of 124, Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly made a surprising claim regarding the fielding controversy. He revealed that BCCI curators took control of the field just four days before the start of the match.

“No, no, I don’t interfere at all,” he told India Today when asked if his opinion and expertise was sought by the Indian team management before the nature of the pitch was finalized.

“BCCI’s curators come four days before the Test match and take over the wickets. We also have our own curator (Sujan Mukherjee) and he has done an exceptionally good job for a long time. Demands are made and you fulfill the demands. That is what happens.”

The pitch has attracted significant criticism from fans and former cricketers alike, particularly for the excessive spin and inconsistent bounce observed from the first day of play. Ganguly emphasized that the Indian team has the right to a more suitable batting surface.

“It wasn’t the best, I must fully admit, and I think top-order batting, middle-order batting, you know, deserve a better cricket surface. There was a packed house at Eden Gardens for those three days and I fully believe that Gautam Gambhir and his India team should have played on much better wickets than what they played at Eden Gardens,” Ganguly said.

India will face South Africa in the 2nd Test match in Guwahati and will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat. The Indian team faced difficulties against the South African spinners.

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