Gautam Gambhir scolding Rishabh Pant? India coach engages in intense chat with vice-captain after Kolkata Test loss
Published - 16 Nov 2025, 02:32 PM | Updated - 16 Nov 2025, 03:24 PM
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The atmosphere around the Indian camp turned fiery on Sunday, November 16, after India suffered a shocking 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
After the embarrassing defeat in the Kolkata Test, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and vice-captain Rishabh Pant were seen having an intense discussion on the ground.
Furious Gautam Gambhir scolds Rishabh Pant after India's defeat in Kolkata
The defeat was nothing short of embarrassing for India, especially after they prepared the pitch that suited them. Unfortunately, the pitch turned into a nightmare, and they failed to chase 124 runs at the Eden Gardens, and the frustration within the camp was clear.
Read Also: Sourav Ganguly openly attacks Gautam Gambhir for the Eden Gardens Pitch in Kolkata
In the viral video, Gautam Gambhir was seen showing his frustration at Rishabh Pant in the dressing room. And even the Indian vice-captain also appeared tense as the conversation with Gautam Gambhir continued for a couple of minutes, with South Africa taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) November 16, 2025
Speaking about Rishabh Pant’s performance in the first Test against South Africa, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter could manage only 27 runs off 24 balls in the first innings, and then he was dismissed cheaply for just 2 runs as South Africa won the game by 30 runs on Sunday.
Rishabh Pant admits India let easy chase slip away after Eden Gardens shock
After the match, India’s vice-captain admitted that the hosts let a small chase slip away. He also noted that the hosts allowed pressure to build in the second innings and couldn’t take advantage when it mattered against South Africa at the Eden Gardens.
The left-handed batter also pointed out that the crucial 44-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and Corbin Bosch pulled South Africa back into the Kolkata Test. Since the pitch was tough to bat on, Pant felt the team must handle such moments better.
Read Also: Shubman Gill ruled out of Guwahati Test? Gautam Gambhir issues official update
Rishabh Pant said at the post-match presentation: “Rishabh Pant: In a game like this, you can't dwell on it too much. We should've been able to chase this score. The pressure built on us in the second innings, and we weren't able to capitalize. Temba and Bosch had a brilliant partnership, and that got them back into the game. There was help on the wicket; a score like 120 can be tricky, but as a team we should be able to soak in the pressure and capitalize. Haven't thought about improvements; the match has just finished. Will come back strong.”
Temba Bavuma’s grit and Proteas’ spin attack stun India in Kolkata
Notably, the first Test began perfectly for India as South Africa were dismissed for just 159 after choosing to bat. But the game changed when the Proteas bowlers, led by Simon Harmer, fought back, as India could take only a 30-run lead in the Test series opener on Day 2.
In their second innings, South Africa collapsed again and ended Day 2 at 93 for 7, putting India in full control. Then came Captain Temba Bavuma’s crucial fifty. On a tough, turning pitch, Bavuma added 60 vital runs on the final morning, and that small lead turned into a big challenge.
Later, Marco Jansen. Keshav Maharaj and Harmer made it a day for the Indian batters to forget as they bowled the hosts out for just 93 runs while chasing a 124-run target at the Eden Gardens.
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