Sack Gautam Gambhir, save Indian Test cricket: Manoj Tiwary directly tells Devajit Saikia

India’s proud fortress at home has crumbled once again, and this time the storm around head coach Gautam Gambhir is louder than ever. For years, the teams from the SENA countries struggled heavily in India. Now, the same sides are walking in and taking victories without breaking a sweat.

Their brutal 0-2 whitewash in the latest home Test series against South Africa marked India’s second home Test whitewash in just 13 months. Both came under Gautam Gambhir's stint.

The numbers are not good either. Under Gautam Gambhir, India has lost five of their last seven home tests; that is something almost unimaginable a few years ago.

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Manoj Tiwary slams Gautam Gambhir after India's 0-2 whitewash

The 408-run defeat in the second and final Test in Guwahati made things even worse. However, Gambhir defended himself by pointing to ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup triumphs and a drawn Test series in England, but many felt it was not enough to cover the growing cracks in Tests.

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Adding fuel to an already raging fire, the former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwary delivered one of the strongest statements yet. He believes that the time has come for the BCCI to rethink who should guide India’s Test team.

He blamed frequent selection changes, confused planning, and a lack of a steady process for the Indian team’s debacle under Gautam Gambhir’s tenure in Test cricket.

Manoj Tiwary calls for a new Test coach for India

Manoj Tiwary was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times: “To be honest, the writing was on the wall. It had to happen. I knew things were not going well; the process they want to follow is not the right strategy or plan. There was a lot of chopping and changing, which was very evident. That could have been in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the home series against New Zealand, and now against South Africa.”

Tiwary also called for a separate coach for Test cricket, saying it is the only way to protect India’s slipping red-ball standards. He further noted, “Absolutely. There is no question about it. (whether India should have a separate red-ball coach). It's high time they take this decision to save Indian Test cricket. That's the bottom line.”

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The cricket pandit also questioned whether the draw in England was truly an achievement, pointing out that India had the stronger team but was saved only because England collapsed on the final day instead of sealing a clear win.

Manoj Tiwary claims Gautam Gambhir has ‘no major achievement’ as India coach

Tiwary said, “There is no great achievement in his tenure so far.” He argued that the ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup successes cannot be credited to Gambhir alone, saying that it was the result of Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli’s hard work.

The Bengal minister further explained, “I saw a clip of him (Gautam Gambhir) claiming that he has won the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. This team was built by Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and, before that, Virat Kohli. Even if Gambhir wasn't the coach of Team India for these two tournaments, India would have won anyway because the team was already made.”

Tiwary expressed concern that Gambhir’s limited experience in red-ball coaching may not be enough at the highest level. He signed off by saying, “It is very unfortunate to see a white-ball mentor leading India as a head coach. If you don't have the experience at the ground level, how do you expect to give results at the top level? It is next to impossible.”