India are definitely a team in transition in Tests: Temba Bavuma

South African Test captain Temba Bavuma has stated that the Indian Test team, captained by Shubman Gill, is currently under transition, adding that the team is reminding him of the South African Test team in 2019, which underwent transition when they lost some of their big players.

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Writing his exclusive column for ESPNCricinfo, Bavuma stated that the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has been under severe pressure when it comes to the red-ball format. However, the top-order batter felt that Gambhir’s white-ball record would help him to buy some time.

"When it comes to the red-ball stuff, India are definitely a team in transition. If I think of the Proteas Test team in 2019 - which is already seven years ago - we went through the same type of process or phase when we lost some of our big guns. So there is nothing unique about where India find themselves in Test cricket. India coach Gautam Gambhir has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and I think he is going to have to take it as it comes. He is going to have to find a way to buy himself time in the red-ball game, and I'm of the view that the performances in white-ball cricket may assist him,” Temba Bavuma wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.

Notably, India recently suffered a 0-3 whitewash to South Africa at home. Interestingly, this was India’s second consecutive Test series whitewash to a SENA nation at home. Furthermore, Bavuma also wrote that he is not in favour of split coaching rule.

"Some may speak more to the narrative that Gambhir should perhaps carry on with the white-ball stuff and let someone else fulfil the Test cricket duties. Splitting the red- and white-ball coaching roles was something we gave a go within the Proteas set-up back in 2023. At the time there was sense behind the split rule. But now having one coach across all formats works a lot better for players from a continuity point of view. Moreover, it's advantageous from a philosophy and playing style point of view. I don't think a lot of teams are going with the split-format system anymore, and to be honest, I'm not really in favour of that rule,” he added.

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