India’s recent difficulties in Test cricket shone the spotlight on head coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over the reins in July 2024. Consecutive home defeats to New Zealand and South Africa raised questions over his tenure, but Gambhir maintains these tough times are part of a necessary transition.
Gautam Gambhir on India’s Recent Losses: A Time for Transition
India’s once-invincible record in home Test cricket has come under the scanner after back-to-back heavy losses to New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-0) in the last 12 months. While these defeats have dampened spirits, Gautam Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as the head coach, insists that India is going through a natural transition phase.
A day after India’s crushing defeat by 408 runs in Guwahati, Gambhir said during a post-match press conference that transition is not about substituting players but about adjusting to new realities, particularly after the retirements of several stalwarts like R Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.
“I don’t think ever in Indian cricket something like this has happened where the transition is happening in both the spin-bowling department and the batting department,“ Gambhir said.
Gautam Gambhir Stresses Accountability and Team Care
Despite all of India’s challenges, Gambhir is sticking to his task and maintains accountability in the team. He mentioned that skill can be developed among players; however, there is always a sense of accountability in how much they care for the team and the results.
Commenting on a particularly poor batting collapse on day three in Guwahati, where India fell from 95 for 1 to 122 for 7, Gambhir said, “From 95 for 1 to 120 for 7 is not acceptable.”
According to him, such collapses are a result of players putting personal strategies ahead of the team’s needs, stressing that the team must come first. Gambhir added, “You can’t just keep blaming the players. It’s about how much you care about Indian cricket and the team. That is where accountability starts.”
Youthful Inexperience: Gautam Gambhir on the Batting Transition of India
This Indian Test team is characterized by youthful inexperience, especially in the batting department. And with players like Shubman Gill stepping up as captain and others still with fewer than 15 Test matches under their belts, Gambhir points out that this team needs time to mature.
“This team has less experience than the previous one. Four or five of our top batters have played fewer than 15 Test matches,” he said. “They’re learning on the job, and they’ll grow. You can’t expect overnight success in Test cricket.”
Gambhir acknowledged patience, stating that players must be given the necessary time to adjust and develop in high-pressure situations. This learning curve, he argued, is part of the ongoing transition, and those who would rise up to the challenge would ultimately succeed.
Gautam Gambhir on the Test Team’s Future: It’s about Collective Effort
With two successive defeats, Gambhir pointed out that the future of Indian Test cricket involves focusing on this format. According to him, Test cricket needs to be accorded the same importance as white-ball cricket: “If we are really serious about Test cricket, we need to make it a collective effort. Just blaming players or staff won’t help.”
Gambhir reiterated the need for a collective effort: “We must focus on Test cricket and not just look at the short-term success in white-ball cricket,” he said, urging fans and media not to forget that Test cricket has a pivotal role to play in India’s cricketing ecosystem.
Backing Young Spinners: Gautam Gambhir Supports Washington Sundar
One of the most important concerns for India during this transition has been their spin-bowling department, especially after the retirement of veteran off-spinner R Ashwin. Gautam Gambhir backed up the younger spinners, particularly Washington Sundar, who showed a lot of promise in his early Tests.
Gambhir stated, “To expect Washy to give the same kind of performance as Ashwin, having played just 10 or 15 Test matches is not fair.” He mentioned that Sundar and all the others take some time to get accustomed to different conditions and iron out their art.
Gambhir’s endorsement of youngsters like Sundar reflects his overall philosophy of backing and developing talent through the transition rather than fast-tracking players into the limelight. He remains confident that, given time, India’s spinners will develop into world-class bowlers.
A Broader Look at India’s Test Future
Gautam Gambhir on Building Tough Characters Looking ahead at India’s future in Test cricket, Gambhir spoke of the need for mental toughness over flamboyance. “In Test cricket, you don’t need the most skillful players.
What matters is the ability to grind it out under pressure, with limited skills but immense determination.” He feels that tough characters, who can take the grind of Test cricket, are more vital than players with flashy technique or high-profile records in limited-overs formats.
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