Published By: Sayan Guha

Gambhir’s Coaching Era: Fumbles, Fails, and a Whole Lotta 'Yikes'

Credit: Khel Now

From historic lows to tough transitions, Gambhir’s stint as India’s head coach is already a story of harsh lessons

When Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach, expectations were high. Gambhir’s hiring appeared to be a masterstroke by the BCCI, riding high on the success of steering the Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL victory in 2024. However, transferring from franchise cricket to international coaching has proved difficult.

The former opener’s career began with optimism but swiftly devolved into disappointment, particularly in Test cricket. India’s failure in Australia, along with domestic issues, has prompted fans to doubt Gambhir’s plans. Let us look at the setbacks that have marked his first few months at the command.

The “46 all out” nightmare: A historic collapse

The statistics speak it all: 46. This was much more than simply a batting meltdown; it was a horror. India’s abysmal performance in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand created an unpleasant history, as they scored their lowest total in almost two decades.

The match began with confidence, but India’s batting lineup collapsed like a deck of cards in cloudy weather. Jasprit Bumrah’s explosive bowling offered India some hope early on, but the batting flopped terribly. Matt Henry’s accuracy dominated the middle order, while Will O’Rourke, making his debut, gave a masterclass with seven wickets.

Despite a valiant recovery driven by Sarfaraz Khan’s maiden Test century and Rishabh Pant’s 99, the team could not overcome the large 356-run first-innings lead. What is the final scoreline? A stunning setback that raises doubts about Gambhir’s tactical acumen.

A historic whitewash at home

If the 46-all-out calamity was a bitter pill, the 3-0 home series victory against New Zealand was a complete disaster. India has never been blanked in a three-match Test series on home soil.

New Zealand’s fresh stars—Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, and Ajaz Patel—delivered outstanding performances. The series was concluded by Ajaz’s exceptional performance in Mumbai, which demolished India’s batting and cemented New Zealand’s domination. For Gambhir, this was more than simply a defeat; it was a setback to India’s fortress-like status at home.

Fans were horrified as India broke apart in every area. The team’s inability to adjust to spin-friendly circumstances revealed a lack of preparedness, and Gambhir’s tactics came under intense scrutiny. The result? A historic low for a squad that once boasted of being practically unstoppable in its own territory.

A lost Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade

The loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia exacerbated the disappointment. India had dominated the series for a decade, winning four straight titles. But this time, Australia battled back and won the series 3-1.

While India started strong with a victory in Perth, the trend swiftly changed. A Pink Test defeat in Adelaide, a draw in Brisbane, and losses in Melbourne and Sydney sealed India’s misery. The series featured tactical blunders and squandered opportunities, prompting criticism of Gambhir’s lack of consistency.

Knocked out of the WTC final race

With only one win in the past eight Test matches, India’s chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final have faded. Under Gambhir’s predecessors, India has reached back-to-back WTC finals. However, the campaign lacked direction this time, and India paid a high price for its unreliability.

A glimmer of hope in T20Is, but ODIs fall flat

While Tests have been difficult, Gambhir’s tenure has not been without its positive aspects. Suryakumar Yadav led India to an overwhelming T20I series victory over Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, the same cannot be true about ODIs.

The 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka was incredibly disappointing, given it marked the island nation’s first bilateral ODI series victory against India in 27 years. The series also set new marks for spin dominance, with 43 wickets going to spinners in three matches. Gambhir saw this as another reminder of the difficulties of leading a squad in transition.