Gautam Gambhir did not directly blame any individual for India’s humiliating 408-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test, but his comments clearly indicated frustration with stand-in captain Rishabh Pant for “playing to the gallery.”

During his fiery post-match press conference, Gambhir struck a balance between criticism and restraint, delivering a message that was as pointed as it was measured. India were 95 for one before collapsing to 122 for seven, largely due to Marco Jansen’s devastating spell. Pant’s decision to attack Jansen at a crucial stage was highlighted as one of the turning points in the innings.

Asked about Pant’s performance, Gambhir said: "You don't blame one individual shot. You don't blame one individual playing in a certain way. You blame everyone. So, me talking about an individual, I've never done that. I am not going to do it."

He stressed the importance of accountability and team-first thinking:
"The reality is, we still need to improve a lot in red ball cricket – mentally, technically, and in handling pressure. Most importantly, players must put the team ahead of themselves and not play for the gallery."

Gambhir emphasized that accountability comes from care and commitment to the dressing room:
"How much you care about the team and the dressing room is what drives accountability. If you keep putting the team ahead of yourself, you’ll avoid these kinds of collapses."

He also spoke about the need to prioritize Test cricket, pointing out that success in white-ball formats should not overshadow performance in red-ball cricket:
"People who do well in white-ball cricket should not forget what they’ve achieved in Test cricket. We must continue to improve in the longest format, even with upcoming white-ball fixtures."

Addressing the collapse from 95/1 to 122/7, Gambhir said it was more about mental application than technique:
"That is about how much you care for the dressing room and how much Test cricket means to everyone in it."

Gambhir acknowledged the impact of scheduling on performance, noting the team’s rapid transition from a white-ball series in Australia to a Test series against South Africa.
"Scheduling does make a difference. Coming back from Australia with just a couple of days to prepare affects planning, but that is not an excuse. We need to prioritize better."

(By PTI Inputs)