Indore ODI Loss Sparks Fan Outrage, Gautam Gambhir’s Coaching Questioned on Social Media

Indore: Sunday proved to be a disappointing day for Indian cricket as New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs in the third ODI at Holkar Stadium, Indore. With this win, New Zealand clinched the three-match series 2-1, marking the first time the Kiwis have won a bilateral ODI series in India. The historic loss triggered a wave of criticism targeting India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir on social media.

New Zealand Post Massive Total
Batting first after losing the toss, New Zealand amassed a commanding 337/8 in 50 overs. Early breakthroughs from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana provided some hope, but centuries from Daryl Mitchell (137) and Glenn Phillips (106) derailed India’s bowling attack. The Indian spin department struggled to make an impact, allowing the Kiwi batsmen to pile up runs. Mitchell was awarded both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his stellar performance.

Kohli’s Century Goes in Vain
Chasing a stiff target of 338, India were bundled out for 296 in 46 overs. Virat Kohli once again showcased his class, scoring a magnificent 124-run century, yet this innings added to the list of his efforts that could not secure victory for India. Youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy supported Kohli with 53 runs, but after his dismissal, the middle and lower order collapsed. Harshit Rana battled valiantly, yet the last four wickets fell for just 19 runs, sealing India’s series defeat.

Coaching Under Fire
Immediately following the series loss, the hashtag #SackGambhir trended on social media platform X, as fans expressed frustration over India’s repeated historic defeats under Gambhir’s tenure. Critics highlighted a series of setbacks since Gambhir became coach:

• Loss in Sri Lanka: A long-awaited ODI series defeat on foreign soil.
• Domestic Test Series: Defeats at home against New Zealand and South Africa.
• Clean Sweep: Experiencing a whitewash in a domestic Test series for the first time.
• Loss to New Zealand’s ‘C’ Team: Fans criticized India for losing despite the absence of several key Kiwi players.

A Wake-Up Call for Team India
This defeat serves as a wake-up call for Coach Gautam Gambhir and Captain Shubman Gill. Selection strategies, team combinations, and domestic dominance are all under scrutiny. The loss of home advantage could affect team morale, and cricket fans are eagerly watching to see how the BCCI responds to the series defeat and evaluates Gambhir’s coaching performance.