Following India's recent Test match against England, a storm of discontent has erupted among Indian cricket fans, directed towards head coach Gautam Gambhir and opener Shubman Gill. The focal point of their ire is perceived criticism aimed at Rishabh Pant, particularly after Pant's impressive performance in the match, despite India's loss.

Rishabh Pant etched his name in the record books by becoming only the second wicketkeeper-batter in Test history to score centuries in both innings of a match, following Zimbabwe's Andy Flower. He also became the seventh Indian batter to achieve this feat and the first to do so in England. Pant's scores of 134 and 118 were instrumental in India setting England a target of 371, but ultimately proved insufficient as England chased it down, winning by five wickets.

The controversy began during the post-match press conference when Gautam Gambhir was asked about his thoughts on Pant's twin centuries. Instead of directly praising Pant's individual achievement, Gambhir highlighted the other centurions in the match, namely Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill (who was also making his debut as captain), and KL Rahul. "There are 3 more centuries as well, those are big positives too. Thank you, I would have liked it if you would have said that 100 from Yashasvi, 100 from Shubman on debut as captain, 100 from KL, and 2 centuries from Rishabh," Gambhir stated. He further added, "So, 5 centuries in a Test match. It's a great start to be honest, and hopefully the question could have been better."

This response was not well-received by fans, who felt that Gambhir's remarks downplayed Pant's significant contribution and lacked the appreciation it deserved. Social media platforms were flooded with criticism, with many accusing Gambhir of unnecessarily complicating the matter and failing to acknowledge Pant's exceptional performance. Some fans felt Gambhir's response was a way of deflecting from the loss.

Adding fuel to the fire, some fans have also brought up instances of Shubman Gill appearing to single out Rishabh Pant for dropped chances during the game. This perceived targeting, combined with the history of Pant being replaced as captain, has led to accusations of a deliberate campaign against the player. The sentiment among these fans is that Pant was unfairly "robbed" of his captaincy and is now facing undue criticism.

Dinesh Karthik, commentating for Sky Sports, also weighed in on the situation, observing a possible change in Pant's approach following a message from the coaching staff. Karthik suggested that the message may have curbed Pant's natural, carefree style of play, emphasizing the importance of understanding how to communicate with different players. He stated, "Maybe with Rishabh Pant, it needs to be a different way in which you get things done."

The backlash highlights the strong emotional connection fans have with Rishabh Pant, who is seen as a dynamic and exciting player. His journey back into the team after a serious accident has further endeared him to the fans, who are now quick to defend him against perceived slights.

While Gambhir's intention might have been to emphasize the collective effort and highlight the positive performances of other players, his comments have inadvertently sparked a controversy. It underscores the delicate balance that coaches and team leaders must strike between acknowledging individual brilliance and promoting team unity. As the series progresses, it remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and whether it will have any impact on the team's dynamics.