India's home Test dominance has seemingly evaporated under the tenure of head coach Gautam Gambhir, marked by unprecedented losses and a series of unsettling events. Once considered an impenetrable fortress, India's home record has crumbled, leading to intense scrutiny of Gambhir's strategies and team management.
Gambhir's coaching stint began with a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand in October 2024, a shocking start that was further compounded by a 2-0 series defeat against South Africa. This marked South Africa's first Test series win in India in 25 years. The 408-run defeat in Guwahati against South Africa was India's heaviest Test defeat by runs, surpassing all previous margins in their history.
Several factors contributed to this decline. The retirement of key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin has undeniably created a void in experience and leadership. Frequent changes to the batting order and the playing XI have disrupted team stability and confidence, leading to a visible lack of rhythm. Critics point to Gambhir's preference for all-rounders over specialist players as a contributing factor to the team's woes in the traditional format.
The handling of Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement has also drawn criticism. The narrative suggests that Gambhir's push to introduce all-rounders created an environment where the veteran spinner felt undervalued. This perceived sidelining of a modern legend has been a bitter pill for many fans.
Gambhir's strategy of requesting spin-heavy wickets, intended to leverage India's strength in spin bowling, backfired spectacularly. India lost all Tests played on such turning tracks under Gambhir, suffering repeated fourth-innings collapses and exposing batting frailties. This insistence on spinning tracks limited India's strategic flexibility and failed to maximize the strengths of their fast bowlers.
In response to the criticism, Gambhir has stated that his future is for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to decide. He reminded everyone of his achievements, including winning the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. He emphasized that the team is in a learning phase and needs to prioritize Test cricket. Gambhir also defended his team selections, stating that Test cricket requires "tough characters with limited skills".
Former India batter Suresh Raina has defended Gambhir, stating that the players must shoulder responsibility for the results. Raina highlighted Gambhir's hard work and success in white-ball cricket, emphasizing that the coach can only guide and support the players.
Despite the recent setbacks, Gambhir's overall record as coach includes victories in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2025 Asia Cup. However, India has failed to win a single Test series against a top-seven ranked Test side under his leadership. The team has lost 10 of 18 Tests under Gambhir, including two home whitewashes.
The pressure is mounting on Gautam Gambhir as India's Test coach. The team's performance in the upcoming Test series will be crucial in determining his future. While Gambhir has found success in white-ball cricket, his red-ball tenure has been marred by failures. The question remains whether he can turn things around and restore India's dominance in Test cricket.
