Gautam Gambhir receives defense from former teammates amid Test cricket criticism

Gautam Gambhir is facing significant criticism following recent Test series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa. While Gambhir has led India to titles in the Asia Cup, Champions Trophy, and T20 World Cup, the team's struggles in the red-ball format have impacted India's World Test Championship qualification hopes.

Former cricketer Gary Kirsten has defended Gambhir, describing him as a ‘fantastic coach’ with an ‘incredible success’ record. Kirsten noted that Gambhir's achievements in white-ball cricket and the IPL speak for themselves. Similarly, former spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed confusion over the backlash, suggesting that while Gambhir's straightforward style of ‘telling the bitter truths’ may be difficult for some to digest, he remains a passionate individual who puts the team first.