“It is the time we should enjoy him” – Former India captain defends Gautam Gambhir as India bounce back in BGT 2024-25 after series whitewash to Kiwis

Former India captain Ajay Jadeja has defended head coach Gautam Gambhir weeks after criticism over a 0-3 whitewash in the home Test series against New Zealand. Jadeja believes the criticism towards Gambhir is premature and unjustified considering the short period since the latter took over the reins from Rahul Dravid, who chose not to renew his contract after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Notably, Gambhir, who was the mentor of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, took charge of the Indian team in June. The two-time World Cup winner began his era with a 3-0 win over Sri Lanka in T20Is but soon lost the ODI series 0-2. Under Gambhir's guidance, the Men in Blue then won the T20I and Test series (3-0 and 2-0, respectively) against Bangladesh.

However, the Kiwis handed Rohit Sharma and company a 3-0 whitewash, who lost their first home Test series in the last 12 years. Gambhir received severe criticism following the defeat over the Blackcaps.

Ajay Jadeja refuted those criticism, saying PTI (via The Times of India):

"I think you are being unfair to him... If you will start judging people on the basis of their coaching role or whatever way it is being looked at, it is too short a time to for people to be judged. If you are not convinced that he is good, then one performance here or there will be able to convince anyone. I don't think it is the time to judge him, it is the time we should enjoy him.”

“There are phases and it will come, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. So, I won't go into that direction and start judging him (Gambhir) in six months. You knew what you were asking for and what you were getting. He is a very clear-cut person and he has made it clear throughout his life. So, what your are seeing now is what everyone expected of him to do,” he added.

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“Rohit Sharma has always been an asset” – Ajay Jadeja on India captain Rohit Sharma

Ajay Jadeja further downplayed the importance of batting positions as India captain Rohit Sharma returns for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts on December 6. The regular skipper missed the first Test in Perth owing to personal reasons.

KL Rahul opened in his absence and returned with scores of 26 and 77. Led by Jasprit Bumrah, the visitors won the game by 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Jadeja said in the same interaction:

"I have no details of what the team is thinking right now, no views on who should bat at what number. Rohit Sharma has always been an asset to the side wherever he bats."

"Him (Rohit Sharma) coming back to the team will surely boost India's confidence, for sure. He is a leader, when the chips were down, team was going down, he stood up there as the leader and now when the team is going up, he will be again there as the leader," he added.

Rohit Sharma managed 91 runs during three Tests against New Zealand. The right-handed batter has managed a solitary fifty in the last 10 innings and will look to return to form in the pink-ball Test.