Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of Team India, has been under significant scrutiny following a string of disappointing Test results since October 2024. The pressure escalated after India’s loss in the Lord’s Test last month. Despite these setbacks, Gambhir’s leadership was put to the test again as India staged a stunning comeback in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy to finish the series in a 2-all draw. This dramatic six-run win at the Oval has reignited hopes for Gambhir’s future as the coach.
Dinesh Karthik, the former India wicket-keeper, shared his views on Gambhir’s leadership in this challenging period. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik highlighted how Gambhir has been learning on the job. “Gautam Gambhir had a very ordinary series vs New Zealand at home, goes without saying. He continued to have a poor series against Australia. Now, he has taken control of the team I feel. This is a team handpicked by him, this is a young team. He is the driving force of this team with Shubman,” Karthik said.
Karthik’s Call for Balance in Team Selection
Although Karthik acknowledged Gambhir’s role in leading a young team, he also suggested areas for improvement in his leadership. Karthik believes Gambhir needs to address the balance between batting depth and ensuring the team is capable of picking 20 wickets in Test cricket. “The one thing that I would think that he can do is, can he almost look at being serious about picking 20 wickets as much as he feels about depth in batting?” Karthik added.
The former wicket-keeper went on to say that Gambhir’s strategy, though focused on batting strength, seemed to have missed out on the importance of taking 20 wickets. “They picked a team not to lose. He is now getting his way, so he will be responsible for everything that happens in the Indian team,” Karthik pointed out.
Gambhir’s Leadership Potential Moving Forward
Karthik continued to express his belief that Gambhir is still evolving as a coach. “He’s a terrific white-ball coach and the results have been there for us to see. But, in Test cricket, he is also learning on the job,” Karthik emphasized. However, he also said that it was time for Gambhir to take full responsibility for the direction of the team, whether it succeeds or fails.
“Gautam Gambhir is now fully responsible for everything that happens with this Indian team. If it does well, credit to him. If it doesn’t do well, he should put his hands up and say, ‘we made a mistake,’” Karthik concluded.
Gambhir’s Future as India’s Head Coach
As the series moves forward, Gautam Gambhir remains a focal point for Indian cricket fans and critics alike. His leadership in the England series has earned some redemption, but questions about his team selections and approach to Test cricket remain. Whether Gambhir can continue to build on this momentum will be key in determining his long-term success as India’s head coach.
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