Gambhir’s India still lacks clarity

When Gautam Gambhir took over the helm of the Indian men’s cricket team in July 2024, the appointment was greeted with a blend of curiosity and cautious optimism. Fresh from success in the Indian Premier League and imbued with a combative spirit widely admired during his playing days, Gambhir’s arrival signalled a new era. Eighteen months on, the trajectory of India’s fortunes reveals a complex and often contradictory narrative that demands both an honest appraisal and strategic recalibration.

Gambhir’s tenure has not been devoid of triumphs. India’s white-ball unit, particularly in Twenty20 internationals, has registered an impressive win rate north of 85 per cent, underlining a sustained competence in the shortest format. The team also clinched the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup – achievements that attest to their tactical acumen and squad depth in limited-overs cricket.

Yet, these silver linings sit uneasily beside a succession of unwanted records and sobering results that have punctuated his stint. In One Day Internationals, early setbacks have given way to an inconsistent picture. The most striking example came recently when India surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose a three-match home ODI series to New Zealand 2-1, marking the first bilateral ODI series defeat to the Kiwis on Indian soil.
This loss is symptomatic of broader challenges: India’s middle overs have struggled for penetration, fielding lapses have proved costly, and batting line-ups have exhibited lapses in intensity at crucial moments.Moreover, the ODI win percentage under Gambhir hovers around 60 per cent, respectable yet insufficient for a side with India’s rich limited-overs pedigree.

The examination becomes even sterner in Test cricket, the format that once defined India’s ascendancy. India suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home to New Zealand in late 2024 – their first such humiliation in a home Test series in a quarter-century – followed by successive home defeats to South Africa and a Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss to Australia.The cumulative effect has been a dent in India’s once-formidable red-ball dominance, prompting questions about strategy, selection and temperament in the longest format.

What, then, should be the way forward? First, the coaching setup must undertake a root-and-branch evaluation of batting philosophies and conditioning, especially in ODIs where the tide of victory can turn swiftly. Second, a renewed emphasis on red-ball skills development is imperative if India are to reclaim their Test stronghold. Finally, accountability must extend beyond the coach to include senior players – leadership on the field is as pivotal as instruction off it.Gambhir’s era has been a blend of promise and paradox. To respect India’s cricketing heritage and its future ambitions, a period of introspection, refinement and bold decision-making is overdue.