Despite India's recent loss to South Africa in the second ODI at Raipur, head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasized the importance of recognizing the efforts of the team management. The Men in Blue suffered a 4-wicket defeat against South Africa, even after posting a total of 358 runs, which included centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The loss has put India at risk of losing the ODI series, after already having lost the Test series to South Africa.

Following the defeat, Gambhir is reportedly unhappy with the performance of the bowlers and is considering changes to the Playing XI for the final ODI. Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja are possibly on the chopping block. Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant, or Nitish Kumar Reddy may replace them.

Despite the setback, Gambhir's focus remains on the larger picture. He stressed that individual brilliance should not overshadow the significance of team results. In a statement, Gambhir conveyed that he has always believed that it’s not about individual performances and that he can never celebrate a series loss as a coach. He believes it is his moral responsibility that "we as a nation and we as individuals should never, never celebrate a series loss".

Gambhir's message isn't just for the players, but also for fans and pundits who often fixate on individual milestones. He wants everyone to remember that they are representing the country.

This emphasis on collective responsibility and the need to learn from both victories and defeats highlights Gambhir's approach to coaching. While he acknowledges and appreciates individual performances, he firmly believes that the ultimate goal is to achieve success as a team.

Earlier in November 2025, after India's ODI series defeat to Australia, Gambhir had expressed similar sentiments, noting that commendable individual performances should not overshadow the team's loss. Even after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's impressive performances in the third ODI against Australia, Gambhir made it clear that he cannot celebrate a series loss.

The final ODI against South Africa on December 9th will be a decider, and all eyes will be on the team as they strive to avoid losing the series on home soil. As the head coach, Gambhir's focus will undoubtedly be on ensuring that the team performs as a cohesive unit, with every player contributing to the best of their ability.

Notably, Gautam Gambhir's reaction to Virat Kohli's 53rd ODI century during the second ODI against South Africa went viral, amidst rumors of a rift between the two. Despite the speculations, Gambhir was seen applauding Kohli's achievement.