Virat Kohli’s Brother Blames Gautam Gambhir and Selectors as India Faces Home Test Defeat

As the Indian cricket team stands on the verge of another India Test series whitewash at home, Virat Kohli ’s brother Vikas sparked major debate by criticising head coach Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI selection committee. His strong comments, posted and later deleted, came soon after India lost two quick wickets in their chase of 549 on Day 4 in Guwahati, with another heavy home Test defeat appearing almost certain.

From December 2012 to October 2024, the Indian cricket team did not lose a single India Test series at home, a streak widely regarded as one of the finest in Test cricket history. That dominant era was shaped under Virat Kohli’s leadership before he handed the reins to Rohit Sharma in early 2022. During that period, India were unbeatable at home and became a feared touring side, winning two Border Gavaskar series in Australia, something Vikas feels has been forgotten amid the current slump under Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI selection committee.

On Instagram’s Threads platform, Vikas highlighted how the Indian cricket team has slipped from aiming for overseas triumphs to now battling to survive even in home conditions. He suggested that the India Test series decline is the result of “unnecessary” tinkering by the BCCI selection committee, changes he believes disrupted a winning formula crafted during the peak of Virat Kohli’s tenure.


In his now deleted post, Vikas wrote that there was a time the Indian cricket team played to win in all conditions, but now struggles to save games even at home. His criticism indirectly targeted Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI selection committee for altering a setup that, according to him, was working perfectly during Virat Kohli’s era, contributing to the team's current pattern of home Test defeat.

In another post, Vikas went further, claiming that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not voluntarily step away from Test cricket but were “removed.” This comment added more fuel to the debate surrounding the India Test series selections and the larger decisions made by Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI selection committee as India faces another looming home Test defeat.


Vikas also compared India’s selection approach with South Africa’s. He said the Proteas followed the basics of picking a proper Test match side, while the Indian cricket team deviated from that structure. According to him, India dropped senior players, ignored specialist batters, loaded the XI with all-rounders and even promoted Washington Sundar to No. 3. These decisions, he argued, have contributed to the India Test series struggles and another potential home Test defeat.

In a separate viral post, Vikas wrote:
"So lets break it down: Team India strategy: remove senior experienced players. Remove proper 3/4/5 batmen. Play bowler at no 3. Use all allrounders... SOUTH AFRICA STRATEGY: Play proper test match team: Specialist openers, Specialist no 3/4/5/6 batters, Specialist spinners, Specialist fast bowlers and maybe 1 all rounder. Though I really want team India to win but questions needs to be asked now... WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?"

India are now staring at a second India Test series whitewash at home in four attempts since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach in July. After starting his tenure with a win over Bangladesh, the Indian cricket team suffered a home Test defeat to New Zealand and later lost the Border Gavaskar Trophy to Australia. These back to back setbacks pushed India from being close to a WTC final spot in the 2023 to 2025 cycle to being eliminated, which has intensified scrutiny on the BCCI selection committee.

Following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian cricket team secured a 2 to 2 draw in England under Shubman Gill. Many still believe India should have beaten a depleted England side, raising more concerns about the India Test series direction. The team then beat West Indies at home and appeared to be stabilising under Gautam Gambhir, but South Africa’s dominance in the ongoing series has exposed major issues once again and placed the spotlight firmly back on the BCCI selection committee and the risk of another home Test defeat.