Suresh Raina Defends Gambhir, Says Lack of Self-Belief Holding Players Back

India’s mounting Test cricket struggles have once again taken centre stage during the ongoing second Test against South Africa in Guwahati.

Where the hosts have faltered with both their batting and their on-field clarity. With criticism intensifying around head coach Gautam Gambhir for India’s deteriorating red-ball performances, former all-rounder Suresh Raina has stepped forward to defend him, insisting the accountability lies largely with the players.

As India inch towards another poor result on home soil — amid scrutiny over selections, team balance, and the overall direction under Gambhir — Raina addressed the concerns in an exclusive conversation with India Today, emphasising that the coach is not the root of the problem.

“I don’t think that’s the issue. The coach is doing his job. A year ago, the team won the Champions Trophy. Before that there was a long drought, then a World Cup was won in the USA, and recently another ICC trophy as well,” Raina pointed out.

Highlighting Gambhir’s credentials, he added, “We are talking about a two-time World Cup winner as a coach, someone who performed in finals and played across all formats. The coach can guide, but ultimately, it’s the players who have to go out there, score runs, and dig deep.”

‘India lacking self-belief’

Raina believes India’s current slide is rooted not merely in technique but in a clear erosion of confidence within the batting group — a factor he feels is preventing them from handling pressure moments.

“I feel there is a slight lack of belief at the moment. In our time, even when we were down in a series, we always believed we could come back. Right now, it depends a lot on how players build partnerships and how seriously they take the batting part,” he said.

As a remedy, Raina called for a return to basics — more domestic cricket, more match time, and stronger links with the first-class system.

“The solution is simple: more match practice. We need more camps. Players need to play more first-class cricket. Look at Ajinkya Rahane — he is doing well because of domestic cricket. Pujara used to go back and score double and triple hundreds in first-class cricket. That builds rhythm and belief.”

India’s alarming Test slump

Raina’s remarks followed South Africa’s declaration at 260 for 5 in their second innings, setting India a mammoth 549-run target in Guwahati. India’s response was shaky once again, slipping to 27 for 2 by stumps on Day 4 as Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell early. A surface that looked comfortable for South Africa suddenly appeared more difficult for India, exposing technical gaps and a lack of composure.

Since Gambhir took charge, India have failed to find consistency in Tests — unable to string together partnerships, frequently shuffling combinations, and often leaning too heavily on all-rounders at the expense of specialist batters. The batting order has struggled to cross 300 in multiple innings, a far cry from the dominance India once enjoyed at home.

Under Gambhir, India have played roughly 18 Tests, winning just seven while losing nine — a notable decline from recent years. The downturn has been most pronounced in home conditions, where India have lost four of their last eight Tests, including a stunning 3-0 whitewash by New Zealand. A 2–0 win over the West Indies offered temporary relief, but with the Guwahati Test slipping away, India now face the possibility of another home whitewash, this time against South Africa.