Gambhir's Test Record Under Fire as India's Red-Ball Struggles Continue; "No Excuses Left," Says Former Cricketer

Saturday - 28/06/2025 00:45

Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, faces increasing scrutiny after the team's struggles in Test cricket, highlighted by a recent defeat to England under Shubman Gill's captaincy. With only one win in the last nine Tests, including series losses to New Zealand and Australia, pressure mounts. Aakash Chopra emphasizes the need for results, noting the selectors' support.

Gautam Gambhir Under Scrutiny as India's Test Performance Falters

Gautam Gambhir faces pressure as India coach

Former India opener and current head coach Gautam Gambhir is facing increasing pressure following the Indian team's underwhelming performance in Test cricket, despite their continued success in limited-overs formats, including their recent Champions Trophy victory.

The most recent setback occurred at Headingley, where India, led by new captain Shubman Gill, suffered a five-wicket defeat against England. This loss adds to previous series defeats against New Zealand and Australia. Under Gambhir's leadership, India has managed to win only one of their last nine Test matches. This period includes a 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand and a 3-1 defeat to Australia, resulting in India relinquishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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This challenging phase coincides with a transitional period for the team, marked by the retirements of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket after the series loss to Australia. A relatively new team, led by Gill, is still finding its footing, and the start in England has been disappointing.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, urging patience with Gill but also highlighting the growing pressure on Gambhir. "There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. He has won two matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia, but we lost three to New Zealand, three to Australia, and now one to England. He has been losing and losing.”

Chopra emphasized that there are no more excuses. “The selectors have given everything the coaching staff has asked for. So, if this is the case, then you also need to deliver the results. Period.”

With the England series finely balanced, Gambhir’s leadership in the red-ball format is under intense scrutiny.