Fans Chant ‘Gautam Gambhir Go Back’ After India’s 408-Run Defeat in Guwahati

The Indian team has suffered its second Test series clean sweep in a year. Last November, New Zealand swept the series, and now South Africa has whitewashed them. This is why head coach Gautam Gambhir faced the fans' wrath for the first time at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Shortly after India's massive 408-run defeat in the second Test, the fans' anger in one of the stands reached its peak. They started hooting loudly and shouting, "Gautam Gambhir, hey, go back!" Mohammed Siraj and Sitanshu Kotak then entered the stands and urged them to keep calm.

As fans chanted, "Gautam Gambhir, hey, go back!" Gambhir's expression was remarkable. He briefly looked towards the stands, then turned his face away, seemingly trying to ignore the fans' reaction. Meanwhile, all the players, forgetting the match, began looking towards the stands. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj gestured to the crowd to remain calm. Immediately afterward, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak, along with Siraj, went to the stands and urged the fans to maintain peace.

Indeed, Team India, which has dominated domestic series for the past two decades, has lost five Tests at home since Gautam Gambhir's arrival. In such a situation, the fans are understandably angry, as the head coach is constantly making changes to the team and is failing to achieve success.

India suffered a 408-run defeat at the hands of South Africa. This is their biggest Test defeat by a margin of runs at home. Following South Africa's 2-0 clean sweep, India's path to the World Test Championship 2025-27 final has become increasingly difficult. They have now slipped to fifth place in the WTC points table, below even Pakistan.

After the series loss to South Africa, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that his priority is Indian cricket, not establishing his own identity. He also mentioned his past successes with the team as head coach, including the Test series draw in England, the ICC Champions Trophy, and the Asia Cup.

Gambhir said after the match, "I had said in my first press conference when I took over as head coach that Indian cricket is important, I am not." And I'm sitting here saying exactly that. Yes, people may forget that. I'm the same guy who achieved results with a young team in England, and I'm sure you'll forget that very quickly, because so many people keep talking about New Zealand. I'm the same guy who led India to Champions Trophy and Asia Cup victories.