However, the social media post did not sit well with Gambhir as he hit back in the press conference after India beat South Africa in the ODI series. “People said things that have nothing to do with cricket. An IPL team owner also wrote about split coaching. It’s important for people to stay in their domain. Because if we don’t go into someone’s domain, they also don’t have the right to come into our domain,” Gambhir had said.
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Chopra felt Gambhir should tone down his reactions in press conferences, warning that such fiery remarks could invite criticism in the future if India slip up again.
“Gautam came and he was very fiery. You expect that with Gautam. When he comes to press conferences, he speaks his heart out. I have a suggestion for Gautam. When you come so fiery, and when you go after an individual or something, people then start waiting for Gautam to fail. At times, it seems like you are setting yourself up for this kind of criticism,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.“It cannot be his (Gambhir’s) mistake only when the team loses. One thing is certain with Gautam. His heart is at the right place, and he is a very passionate guy. He is always ready to fight for the country and the country’s team. My only suggestion is don’t fight. You have to please nobody. Don’t pick up so many fights,” he added.
Chopra, however, felt Gambhir’s swipe at an IPL owner’s remark on India’s Test defeats was unnecessary.
“He said if you don’t have the domain expertise, don’t talk about it. I felt it was slightly unnecessary. However, sometimes we fail to understand the undercurrents behind it. I am not trying to defend him. However, at times, you feel bad about someone because you know that guy’s opinion about you had been different earlier as well, so let me just fire it back,” he added.
“That might have been the case with that one person. Otherwise, I don’t think there is merit in this argument that you don’t need to speak about something if you are not the domain expert. Just like the incredible thing Indigo has done. I am not an aviation expert, but I can talk. I don’t think someone doesn’t have a moral right to talk. However, that one thing might have had a slightly deeper, bigger meaning,” Chopra remarked.### Gautam Gambhir Warned After 'Unnecessary' Charge at Parth Jindal in Vizag Presser
In a heated exchange that's ignited debates on boundaries in Indian cricket, head coach Gautam Gambhir fired back at Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal during a post-match press conference in Visakhapatnam on December 6, 2025. The outburst came on the heels of India's 2-1 ODI series triumph over South Africa, but was rooted in criticism of Gambhir's coaching following a humiliating 0-2 home Test series whitewash—the second in 12 months. Former India opener Aakash Chopra quickly issued a stern warning to Gambhir, urging him to dial back his combative style amid growing scrutiny.
#### The Spark: Parth Jindal's Social Media Post
The controversy erupted after India's 408-run thrashing in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati in late November 2025. Jindal, a vocal IPL stakeholder and son of JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal, took to X (formerly Twitter) to lambast the team's red-ball performance: "Not even close, what a complete thrashing at home! Don't remember seeing our Test side being so weak at home!!! This is what happens when red ball specialists are not picked. This team is nowhere near reflective of the deep strength we possess in the red ball format. Time for India to move to a specialist red-ball coach for Test cricket." His post implicitly called for split coaching—separate specialists for Tests and white-ball formats—directly challenging Gambhir's all-format role, which he assumed in July 2025.
Jindal's comments echoed broader frustrations after India's first home Test series loss since 2012, amplifying calls for structural changes in BCCI coaching setups.
#### Gambhir's Fiery Response in Vizag
Fresh off the ODI series win, where India bounced back emphatically, Gambhir addressed queries about his Test future and external critiques during the Vizag presser. Without naming Jindal, he unleashed a pointed rebuke: "There are people who are sitting outside the cricketing ecosystem; they do not understand how much hard work and dedication goes into making a team. I don't think they have any right to suggest anything about the team, especially when it comes to split coaching." He doubled down on professional silos: "If I do not enter anybody's domain, they also have no right to enter my domain. People should learn to stay in their domain. An IPL owner should stay in his domain. A coach should stay in his domain. A player should stay in his domain."
Gambhir also defended the Test debacle, attributing part of the blame to captain Shubman Gill's neck injury, which hampered his batting in both innings of the first Test: "This is what happens when red ball specialists are not picked... but with Gill injured, it affected the leadership and batting." The coach expressed shock at the "unprecedented" criticism post-Tests, emphasizing the team's resilience in ODIs as proof of their depth.
#### Warnings and Reactions: 'Don't Pick Up So Many Fights'
Gambhir's remarks drew swift backlash, with Aakash Chopra leading the charge on his YouTube channel: "When you come so fiery, and when you go after an individual or something, people then start waiting for Gautam to fail. At times, it seems like you are setting yourself up for this kind of criticism." Describing the Jindal swipe as "slightly unnecessary," Chopra advised: "Don’t pick up so many fights. You have to please nobody." He hinted at possible "deeper undercurrents" but cautioned that Gambhir's passion could backfire if results dip.
On X, reactions poured in. Rishabh Pant, Delhi Capitals' star wicketkeeper-batter, retweeted a post criticizing Gambhir's comments, signaling internal IPL tensions. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin weighed in philosophically: "We often drift into tearing down personalities," urging a focus on cricket over personal jabs. News outlets amplified the drama, with one post questioning if split coaching was truly "galat" (wrong), while others shared clips of Gambhir's presser.
Jindal has remained silent since his original post, but the feud has spotlighted friction between national coaching and IPL ownership.
#### Broader Implications for Indian Cricket
This clash underscores simmering debates on Gambhir's high-intensity style, which has polarized fans since his appointment. Proponents praise his no-nonsense approach—India's ODI revival is a testament—but detractors, including ex-cricketers like Kris Srikkanth (who recently targeted pacer Harshit Rana), see it as divisive. The call for split coaching revives pre-Rahul Dravid era discussions, potentially pressuring BCCI to reassess as the 2026-27 home season looms.
With Gambhir's contract running through the 2027 ODI World Cup, this episode tests his ability to navigate critics while rebuilding Test credentials. As Chopra noted, the real litmus test will be on-field results—failure could turn these "fights" into full-scale scrutiny. For now, Gambhir's retort has kept him in headlines, but at what cost to team harmony?
