Former India batter Robin Uthappa, who was a member of the MS Dhoni-led side that won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, has come out in support of Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir is facing a lot
of criticism these days, and calls for his removal as head coach of India’s Test team are gaining pace after India suffered a 0-2 defeat in a two-match Test series against South Africa.
While many fans, experts and former cricketers like Manoj Tiwary have publicly stated that BCCI should part ways with Gambhir, the former India opener has found support in Suresh Raina and Sunil Gavaskar, and now Uthappa, who shared the dressing room with him for many years in Team India as well as Kolkata Knight Riders, has also joined the bandwagon.
According to Uthappa, it’s not the coach who is going out and playing on the field, so to put all the blame for defeat on him is not justified.
“Should Gautam Gambhir be sacked?” Uthappa was asked during his recent appearance in a podcast, and in reply he said, “No, man. Like, if some coach was going out there and playing, like, what kind of a question is that? It’s like I said yesterday that, listen, people have gone after Rahul Dravid, the guy who’s got 25,000 – 30,000 runs in international cricket, right? So if he can get trolled, and he can be called a bad coach, and he should be sacked, and they can call for his head, then they will call for anybody’s head.”
🎙️ Robin Uthappa and Jarrod Kimber laugh at the question “Should Gautam Gambhir be sacked?” 😂
Uthappa says, “If people can even call for Rahul Dravid’s head, a man with 25 to 30 thousand runs, then nothing surprises me anymore.” 😭🔥
Jarrod says, “Fans used to claim Dravid… pic.twitter.com/NaJGOe14cz
— Pitch Perfect (@_pitch__perfect) November 28, 2025
Even though Uthappa has backed his former teammate, India’s performance in Tests under Gambhir is really bad. India have won five out of nine Tests played so far at home since his appointment as head coach in July 2024. In India’s history of Test cricket, no other head coach has suffered five defeats in home Tests. Gambhir is also India’s only head coach in history to suffer two whitewashes in Test series played at home.
In away Tests as well, India have lost five and won only three out of 10 Tests played so far since Gambhir took charge.
