Following India’s disappointing ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka, cricket fans have taken to social media to express their frustration, particularly targeting head coach Gautam Gambhir. This series marked a significant moment in cricket history, as Sri Lanka secured their first ODI series victory against India since 1997, leaving many fans in disbelief and anger.
Embarrassing series defeat for India
The series, which concluded on Wednesday (August 7), ended with Sri Lanka winning 2-0, highlighting India’s struggles against quality spin bowling. The final ODI saw India bowled out for a mere 138 runs, a collapse that fans described as “embarrassing.” Critics have pointed fingers at Gambhir for his tactical decisions, particularly his reshuffling of the batting order, which many believe contributed to the team’s failures.
In the second ODI, India lost by 32 runs despite a promising start. Captain Rohit Sharma‘s innings of 64 runs was overshadowed by a middle-order collapse, with the team losing key wickets to Sri Lankan spinners. Fans were particularly vocal about Gambhir’s decision to promote Shivam Dube to number four in the batting lineup, a move that backfired spectacularly when Dube was dismissed for a duck. This prompted fans to question the logic behind sidelining seasoned players like Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in favour of less experienced options.
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Netizens brutally troll Gautam Gambhir
Social media was flooded with memes and comments mocking Gambhir’s coaching abilities.
Gambhir, who has only been in charge for two series, faced a brutal reality check as he watched his players struggle against Sri Lanka’s spin attack. Critics noted that India’s batting approach seemed timid, with players hesitant to step out of their comfort zones. The lack of confidence was evident, particularly in the third and last ODI, where the team failed to adapt to the turning conditions.
Gambhir wants credit of winning wc after 28 years.
But people are giving him credit of losing series vs SL after 27 years.
pic.twitter.com/nE6biXV0Ux— ` (@WorshipDhoni) August 7, 2024
India team ka ODI series harney ka gift Gautham ghambir
— Tanveer Says (@ImTanveerA) August 7, 2024
Thala-Verse Of Trolling GG!😼💥#MSDhoni | #GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/7Q4BT1BVeW
— FairWin247 (@FairWin_247) August 8, 2024
Its #GautamGambhir era man 😎
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•#INDvsSL— hustler (@TaufiqueHasan15) August 7, 2024
Gautam Gambhir Era :
Expectations Reality pic.twitter.com/ryo5OWaXzG
— Aditya🫀 (@verm48) August 4, 2024
Which is the toughest overseas tour for Team India: England or Australia?
Gautam Gambhir: Sri Lanka tour pic.twitter.com/BXZVEf1dxV
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) August 7, 2024
Despite Gambhir’s past success as a player, this series has raised questions about his coaching acumen. As India prepares for upcoming matches, including a two-Test series against Bangladesh, the pressure will be on Gambhir to address the issues that led to this historic defeat. Fans are hoping that the lessons learned from this series will lead to a more robust performance in future competitions, particularly with the 2025 Champions Trophy looming in February-March.
