Former Indian batter Suresh Raina has put his weight behind chief coach Gautam Gambhir as India is on the brink of losing the Test series against South Africa. The Proteas won the opening Test match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata by 30 runs.

The visitors have once again put their noses in front, setting a target of 549 runs for the hosts in the second Test at Guwahati. At the end of the fourth day’s play, India were tottering at 27-2 and they are staring at a 2-0 whitewash.

India’s win is out of the question and there are only two results possible – a draw or South Africa win. The Proteas last won a Test series against India in India in 2000.

Meanwhile, Raina said the batters haven’t been able to deliver the goods for India. The home team could not chase down 124 runs in the second innings at Kolkata whereas they were bundled out for 201 runs in the first innings at Guwahati.

“Gauti bhaiyya (Gautam Gambhir) has worked really hard, aur unki koi galti nahi hai (it is not his fault at all), the players have to score runs. Under him, we have been doing great in the white-ball format, where we just won the ICC Champions Trophy. The coaches can only tell you the process, but it is the players who have to go out there and face the balls,” Raina told PTI on the sidelines of the Indian Softball Cricket League’s jersey launch

“If they (the players) are facing any issues, they must be communicating to the coach that this is the issue, and I am sure they must be doing that. If the players do well then the coach will be also applauded. But if the team is not doing well, it should not be that the coach should be sacked from his post. It is the players’ responsibility, if the players are doing well, this question will not even be raised,” he added.

Raina urged the Indian players to consistently play in the domestic circuit to improve their performances at the top level.

“The selection is fine, but the players have to do well. You cannot judge a player on the basis of just one match, two matches, or one series. They should play domestic cricket regularly and do well there, if they do well that will automatically reflect in their performances at the international level. The players should also improve their application in the middle, I hope this all is getting noticed,” Raina added.

India will look to come up with a collective batting effort and save the Guwahati Test.