• Head coach Gautam Gambhir bore the brunt of the criticism from fans after India's defeat against England in the first Test.

  • The visitors lost the match by five wickets at Headingley.

Fans slam Gautam Gambhir after India’s humiliating loss against England in the Headingley Test
Fans troll Gautam Gambhir after India defeat in the Headingley Test (Image Source: X)

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The opening Test of the highly anticipated England vs India series at Headingley turned into a dramatic contest, ending in disappointment for the visitors. England chased down a daunting 371-run target on the final day to secure a five-wicket victory in front of a jubilant home crowd. England had reduced the target to 350 runs after scoring 21/0 on Day 4 with all ten wickets intact. However, what followed on Day 5 shocked Indian fans and stunned cricketing experts alike.

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley set the tone as England pull off a heroic chase

Despite overcast skies and the threat of rain, England’s openers came out firing. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley tore into the Indian bowling lineup, posting a 188-run opening partnership that left Shubman Gill and his men scrambling for answers.

Duckett emerged as the hero, hammering a brilliant 149 off just 168 balls, while Crawley chipped in with a fluent 65 before being dismissed. Their opening stand put England in a commanding position heading into the final two sessions.

After Duckett’s departure, Joe Root took charge and ensured there were no hiccups in the chase. The former skipper remained unbeaten on 53, guiding his team to the finish line alongside skipper Ben Stokes (33) and Jamie Smith, who played a confident hand of 44 not out. The hosts reached the target with five wickets in hand, pulling off one of the most remarkable chases in recent Test history.

Social media erupts as Indian fans lose patience on Gautam Gambhir

As expected, the humiliating loss didn’t sit well with Indian fans, many of whom took to social media to vent their frustration. While several players came under scrutiny, it was head coach Gautam Gambhir who bore the brunt of the criticism. Gambhir, known for his no-nonsense, aggressive approach, has failed to bring consistency to India’s red-ball performances. Under his leadership, India have now lost 7 out of 9 Test matches, including a home series whitewash against New Zealand and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

The series of poor results has put Gambhir’s coaching credentials under the scanner. Fans and former players alike are beginning to question whether his style aligns with the demands of long-format cricket. With four more Tests left in the England series, the pressure on Gambhir is now higher than ever.

Also READ: Fans express outrage as England pull off a record-breaking chase to defeat India in the first Test at Headingley

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also WATCH: Ravindra Jadeja’s playful fist gesture with umpire wins hearts on Day 5 of Headingley Test

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