Is Gautam Gambhir now the default answer to everything that goes wrong in Indian cricket? A loss? Blame Gambhir. A batting collapse? Point fingers at Gambhir. A bowler goes wicketless, or a star name is dropped from the XI? Once again, the easiest target is Gambhir.
Somehow, it has become incredibly convenient to turn one man into the face of every failure. Almost effortless. Almost routine.
Yes, India has underperformed in home Tests. Yes, the standards expected from this team are sky-high. But when batters fail to apply themselves, when bowlers can’t break partnerships, when fielding lapses cost crucial runs, how does every road lead to just one name? Since when did Gautam Gambhir pick up the bat for others? Since when did he bowl those loose deliveries or drop those catches?
What’s more painful is the atmosphere of anticipation - not for India’s victory, but for their defeat. As if a section of fans is simply waiting for the team to lose so they can unload their frustration on Gambhir. Social media turns into a courtroom, and he becomes the accused before the verdict is even written.
Have we forgotten who this man is? The same Gautam Gambhir who stood tall when pressure was at its peak. The same fighter who played a key role in some of India’s greatest triumphs. A man who has already given his blood, sweat, and spine to Indian cricket - first as a fearless cricketer, and now as a coach trying to rebuild a team in transition.
And yet, in the one phase where he deserves patience, belief, and backing, we choose outrage instead. We choose outrage over understanding. Noise over nuance. Reaction over reason.
True fans don’t hunt for scapegoats in difficult times. Real supporters recognise when the opposition is simply better on the day. They understand that defeats are part of sport, and phases fluctuate. They know that greatness isn’t built in moments of comfort, but in storms like these.
This team will rise again. They always do. And when they do, the cheers will return, the flags will wave, and the critics will suddenly find their silence. But remember this moment. Remember how quickly we turned on a man who once carried our hopes on his shoulders.
Because heroes aren’t only measured by the runs they scored in the past - they are also defined by how their own people treat them when the tide turns. And right now, Gautam Gambhir doesn’t deserve blame. He deserves belief.
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