India’s struggles in the ongoing Test series have sparked fresh controversy after Vikas Kohli — brother of former Test captain Virat Kohli — posted strong criticism targeting head coach Gautam Gambhir and the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. His comments appeared online shortly after India collapsed early on Day 4 while chasing an improbable 549 in Guwahati, signalling yet another heavy home defeat. The posts were later deleted but had already gained attention among fans questioning India’s rapid decline in red-ball cricket.
For more than a decade, India dominated at home, remaining unbeaten in every Test series from December 2012 to October 2024 — a golden era shaped largely during Virat Kohli’s captaincy, with Rohit Sharma continuing that legacy. The team was not only invincible on home soil but also became a formidable touring side, famously winning consecutive series in Australia. However, Vikas highlighted how far the team has fallen from those standards, suggesting that unnecessary changes and mismanagement have contributed to the slump.
In his first post on Threads, Vikas wrote that India once played to win even in tough overseas conditions but is now struggling to save matches at home. He implied that internal decision-making and stubborn experimentation have disrupted an otherwise stable setup. Screenshots of the deleted posts circulated widely as fans debated whether the criticism reflected a growing frustration within Indian cricket circles.
In another post, Vikas suggested that Kohli and Rohit did not willingly walk away from Test cricket but were “removed,” intensifying conversations about the BCCI’s approach to phasing out senior players. He compared India’s current strategy with South Africa’s, noting that the Proteas rely on a traditional Test structure with specialised batters and bowlers, while India has fielded an imbalanced XI filled with all-rounders and unconventional batting orders, including pushing Washington Sundar to No. 3.
He further emphasised that although he hopes for a miraculous turnaround, accountability is essential. His now-deleted message pointed out that India dropped experienced batters from the core positions, abandoned a proven structure, and relied too heavily on multi-role players instead of specialists.
India is now on the verge of suffering a second home Test series whitewash in four attempts since Gambhir took charge as head coach in July. After beginning with a confident win over Bangladesh, India slumped to defeats against New Zealand and Australia, falling from near WTC final qualification to being eliminated from the 2023–2025 cycle. Post-retirements of Kohli, Rohit, and Ashwin, India’s mixed performances — including a 2–2 draw in England and a home win against West Indies — suggested temporary recovery, but South Africa’s dominant display has exposed deeper challenges still unresolved within the team.
