Former India captain Virat Kohli’s brother, Vikas Kohli, has sparked fresh controversy by indirectly criticising head coach Gautam Gambhir amid India’s ongoing Test struggles. In a sharp post on Threads, Vikas lamented that the Indian team once played to win overseas but is now “playing to save matches even at home.” He blamed the decline on someone trying to “boss around and change things that were never broken,” a comment widely interpreted as a swipe at Gambhir.
The remarks come at a time when India trails 1–0 in the home Test series against South Africa, having lost the first Test in Kolkata and ending Day 4 of the second Test in Guwahati on the verge of another defeat. Despite a strong first-innings lead, India faltered as South Africa declared at 260/5 and removed two Indian batters before stumps, leaving the hosts needing an improbable 522 runs on the final day.
If India lose the series, Gambhir could become the only Test coach to suffer two home whitewashes. Even a 1–0 defeat would mark two home series losses in four attempts, with nine defeats in 18 Tests. While Gambhir has overseen a major transition, critics argue his constant team changes and tactical misfires have deepened India’s problems.
