Guwahati- For the first time since taking charge of the Indian cricket team as head coach in 2024, Gautam Gambhir was booed by a visibly agitated section of supporters at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday, moments after the hosts suffered a staggering 408-run loss to South Africa in the second Test.

Angry fans from one of the stands began shouting“Gambhir hai hai, go back,” the chants ringing loud inside the stadium that had just witnessed one of Indian cricket team's darkest home afternoons.

The coach briefly looked towards the gallery, only to turn his face away and refusing to react.

The scenes quickly caught the attention of the players. At one point, several members of the playing XI found themselves staring in the direction of the commotion, the decibel levels forcing their focus away from the post-match huddle.

It was then that pacer Mohammed Siraj gestured at the crowd to keep quiet, signalling restraint. Soon after, Siraj and assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak walked up close to the gallery, appealing for calm.

The supporter backlash reflects a deeper simmering discontent. Gambhir has now become the only Indian coach since the start of the new millennium under whose tenure the India national cricket team has lost five Tests at home, a staggering indictment for a side that had turned home advantage into an impregnable fortress over the last two decades.

The 408-run drubbing of India, the heaviest home Test defeat by margin of runs, ensured a humbling clean sweep for South Africa.

Pant Says Sorry for Test Debacle Against SA, Promises team will regroup and refocus

India's Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant has apologised for the team's shambolic performance in the 0-2 series loss to South Africa, asserting that the team will“regroup, refocus and reset” to come back stronger.

India were handed a 0-2 drubbing in the series that ended with the second Test in Guwahati on Tuesday. Pant led the home side in this match as regular skipper Shubman Gill was nursing a neck injury.

The team lost the game by a mammoth 408 runs, further denting the aura of invincibility around its home record and making its path to World Test Championship final more difficult.

“There is no shying away from the fact that we didn't play good enough cricket over the last two weeks. As a team and as individuals, we always want to perform at the highest level and bring smiles to billions of Indians,” Pant, who is personally drawing flak for his reckless shot selection during the series, said in a post on 'X'.

“Sorry we couldn't live up to expectations this time, but sport teaches you to learn, adapt and grow – both as a team and as individuals...We know what this team is capable of and we will work hard, regroup, refocus and reset to come back stronger and better as a team & individuals,” he added.

Pant insisted that representing India is the greatest honour of the players' lives.

The defeat at the hands of a well-prepared South Africa came within a year of the embarrassing 0-3 whitewash inflicted by a lesser fancied New Zealand side.

Both the touring sides capitalised on Indian batters lack of application against quality spinners.

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