India head coach Gautam Gambhir is under pressure following a disastrous run in Test matches.
Gambhir’s tenure as coach in the Test format began well enough with a 2-0 whipping of Bangladesh last year, but recent results have soured the mood in India.
The former batter has been at the helm of the Test side for three series defeats since: 3-0 at home to New Zealand, 3-1 away to Australia and now a historic 2-0 sweep at the hands of the Proteas this month.
Gambhir’s head is exactly on the chopping block, but he is undoubtedly feeling the pressure of the insatiable Indian cricket fans. Talking to the press following Sunday’s loss to South Africa, Gambhir pointed to the hard-fought 2-2 series draw in England as evidence of success.
“I’m the same guy who got results in England as well, with a young team,” he said.
“And I’m sure you guys will forget very soon because a lot of people keep talking about New Zealand. And I’m the same guy under whom [we] won Champions Trophy and Asia Cup as well.
“Yes, this is a team which has less experience. They need to keep learning and they’re putting [in] everything possible to turn the tide.”
Gambhir went on to say that there is a near-unprecedented transition phase underway in India cricket at the moment. A number of high-profile retirements have left them inexperienced in the batting and spin bowling departments.
In a short space of time, heavy hitters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have departed the Test scene, as well as perennial spinner Ravichadran Ashwin.
“I don’t give excuses,” he said before doing exactly that.
“I’ve never done that in the past. I will never do it in the future as well. But four or five batters in this top eight have literally played less than 15 Test matches [each], and they will grow. They’re learning on the job. They’re learning on the field.
“Test cricket is never easy when you’re playing against a top-quality side. So you’ve got to give them time as well. So for me, I think that is something they’ll keep learning. That is important. Because I know that I hate using this word transition. This is exactly what transition is.
“It’s tough when you lose so many experienced players at the same time. And that is why it is called transition. That is why these guys need time. Whether it’s the batting unit or the bowling unit. I don’t think ever in Indian cricket something like this has happened where the transition is happening in the spin-bowling department and in the batting department as well. Normally when your batting is secure or your batting has experience then your team goes through a bowling transition. But with this Test team, obviously, the transition is happening in both skillsets.”
India now switch focus to the white ball, where they have a slew of ODIs and T20Is in the lead up to the T20 World Cup in February. India’s next Test series is in Sri Lanka in August 2026.
