Gautam Gambhir MS Dhoni. Image Credits: X
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has openly criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir after India’s heavy defeat against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, suffered a massive 76-run loss in Ahmedabad.
As a result, the team management’s bold decisions backfired, and both Gambhir and the captain are now facing strong criticism.
Ravichandran Ashwin calls team decisions “Major Blunders”
After the defeat, Ashwin did not hold back his thoughts. He strongly criticised India’s team selection and batting order.
According to him, dropping Axar Patel and playing Washington Sundar based on match-ups were serious mistakes. In addition, he questioned sending Rinku Singh at No. 8 in the batting order.
R Ashwin explained that while match-ups work well in the IPL because teams play many matches, ICC tournaments are different.
"I agree that the IPL is good for match-ups, but you have to change the team because you are going to play 14 games. But in such ICC campaigns, the more stable you can keep the team, the better.
I agree 100% that you have to use Washington Sundar against left-handers; you have to play him, I agree with all that. But Axar Patel has been your MVP in T20 cricket. Let's not forget what Axar Patel has done," Ashwin said.
Furthermore, Ashwin recalled the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where Axar played a key role. In that match, Axar built a crucial 72-run partnership with Virat Kohli and helped India post a strong total of 176 runs.
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How Gautam Gambhir’s tactics backfired
Since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, India’s journey has been mixed. On one hand, the team achieved success in some tournaments, including winning the Champions Trophy in 2025. On the other hand, India have struggled in several ODI and Test series.
For example, India lost ODI series in Sri Lanka and Australia. They also suffered defeats at home. Although India had remained unbeaten in 17 ICC white-ball matches before this game, South Africa ended that impressive streak.
Moreover, Gautam Gambhir has consistently experimented with the playing XI. He has preferred multi-skilled players like Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel. However, constant changes have sometimes affected team balance and stability.
During Gambhir’s tenure, several senior players stepped away from certain formats. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket, while Ashwin announced his retirement during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In addition, India have faced tough results at home. They were whitewashed 3-0 by New Zealand in 2024 and later lost a Test series against South Africa. In white-ball cricket too, India lost an ODI series to New Zealand in 2026.
Overseas performances have also been disappointing. India lost the BGT 3-1 to Australia in 2024-25 and also lost ODI series in Australia and Sri Lanka. Therefore, critics believe that the team has lacked consistency under Gambhir’s leadership.
A Call to follow MS Dhoni’s winning formula
Now, after the defeat against South Africa, India’s chances of qualifying have become slim. Meanwhile, many feel that Ashwin’s criticism carries an indirect message, to follow the successful model of MS Dhoni.
It is important to note that MS Dhoni was known for backing the same team and avoiding too many experiments in major tournaments. Similarly, Rohit Sharma also trusted a stable lineup during India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory.
Therefore, the suggestion is clear that instead of constant changes, India may need stability and trust in their core players. Only time will tell whether Gautam Gambhir adapts his approach to save India’s T20 World Cup campaign.
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