South Africa Captain Temba Bavuma Weighs In on Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Challenges
South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has offered a candid assessment of India head coach Gautam Gambhir's position, suggesting that while Gambhir faces significant pressure in Test cricket, the presence of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the ODI setup provides crucial stability.
Test Transition Poses Major Challenge for Gambhir
Bavuma, who led South Africa to a memorable 2-0 Test series victory over India in November, observed that India is currently navigating a transitional phase in red-ball cricket. "When it comes to the red-ball stuff, India are definitely a team in transition," Bavuma wrote in an ESPNcricinfo column. He emphasized that Gambhir shoulders considerable responsibility in managing this evolution, with several batting positions still undecided in the Test lineup.
The Proteas skipper believes that Gambhir will need to strategically manage his time and resources to steady India's Test fortunes. "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," Bavuma noted. He added that strong performances in white-ball cricket could potentially buy Gambhir the necessary breathing room to implement his long-term vision for the Test team.
Kohli and Rohit's Experience Eases ODI Pressure
In contrast to the Test scenario, Bavuma pointed out that India's ODI squad benefits immensely from the continued presence of Kohli and Rohit. Following the Test series loss, India rebounded strongly in the white-ball legs of the home series against South Africa, securing a 2-1 ODI series win where both stalwarts delivered match-winning performances with centuries and half-centuries.
"In ODIs, Kohli and Rohit will naturally take on a lot more responsibility from a performance and leadership point of view," Bavuma remarked. He expressed confidence that this dynamic would alleviate some of the immediate pressure on Gambhir in the 50-over format, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon. "So I think Gambhir will be okay in terms of his position," he concluded regarding the ODI setup.
Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Results
Bavuma dismissed the notion of split-coaching roles across formats for India, suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Gambhir with a broader, multi-year strategy in mind. "They want him to be successful over a period of two to four years. In that period, things are not going to be all good all the time," he stated, emphasizing the importance of patience and long-term planning.
He also highlighted opportunities emerging at the domestic level, with vacancies in the Test team that could be filled by promising performers. This, according to Bavuma, is part of the natural rebuilding process that Gambhir must oversee.
Reflecting on South Africa's Test Series Triumph
Bavuma revisited South Africa's Test series win, acknowledging that India's challenges were compounded by the absence of key players. He specifically mentioned how South Africa capitalized on Shubman Gill's injury during the Eden Gardens Test, which forced India to field a makeshift captain in Rishabh Pant and reshuffle their batting order.
"Looking back now, we exploited the opportunity with a senior player like him not being there. Gill not being able to contribute with the bat played heavily in our favour," Bavuma recalled. However, he offered a balanced perspective, noting that Gill's return from injury should help stabilize India's Test lineup. "With Gill back from injury, I think things will equalise a bit more and it's not all doom and gloom for India," he wrote.
Bavuma's insights underscore the contrasting narratives shaping Indian cricket under Gambhir's stewardship—a team in flux in Tests, yet reinforced by experience in ODIs, setting the stage for a fascinating period of development and competition.
