Gautam Gambhir's tenure as India's head coach has been under intense scrutiny following a mixed bag of performances in 2025. While the team achieved considerable success in white-ball cricket, their performance in the Test format has raised concerns and triggered calls for change.
Gambhir, who took over from Rahul Dravid in July 2024, began his stint with a clear vision. Supported by a coaching staff including Morne Morkel as bowling coach, Sitanshu Kotak as batting coach, and T. Dilip as fielding coach, Gambhir aimed to instill a bold, fearless, and attacking brand of cricket. His initial successes included winning the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2025, showcasing India's dominance in limited-overs formats.
However, the Test arena presented a different challenge. India's Test form has been inconsistent, marked by series losses to Australia and South Africa. They suffered a 1-3 series defeat in Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a 0-2 home series loss against South Africa. These defeats have led to criticism of Gambhir's coaching credentials in the longest format of the game. Notably, India was bowled out for just 93 while chasing a modest target of 124 in the first Test against South Africa.
Despite the struggles in Test cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shown support for Gambhir. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stated that Gambhir would continue as the head coach across all formats until at least the 2027 ODI World Cup. This decision underscores the board's confidence in Gambhir's ability to lead the team in the long run, particularly with a focus on white-ball cricket in the lead-up to major tournaments.
In contrast to the Test results, India's performance in T20s and ODIs under Gambhir has been impressive. They won the Asia Cup, secured series wins against England and South Africa, and clinched the Champions Trophy. These victories highlight India's strength in white-ball cricket and the emergence of new talent under Gambhir's guidance.
Looking ahead, Gambhir's major assignment in 2026 is the T20 World Cup. Given India's success in the format, expectations will be high. As the team shifts its focus to ODI cricket in preparation for the 2027 World Cup, Gambhir's ability to adapt and learn from the challenges in Test cricket will be crucial.
While there have been speculations about a potential split-coaching approach, with different coaches for red-ball and white-ball formats, the BCCI has denied these rumors. For now, Gautam Gambhir remains at the helm, with the responsibility of addressing the team's Test form while building on their success in limited-overs cricket. The coming months will be critical in determining whether Gambhir can steer India to greater heights across all formats of the game.
