After the drubbing at home to New Zealand, the Australia sojourn could be a make-or-break tour for the new head coach, especially with India headed for a period of transition
The honeymoon period for the Indian cricket team‘s head coach Gautam Gambhir has ended abruptly. After enduring a humiliating 3-0 whitewash in the Test series against New Zealand on home soil, the former opener finds himself under immense pressure as India gears up for a challenging five-Test series against Australia.
Gambhir was brought on board to sustain India’s dominance across all three formats. However, India lost a white-ball series in Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years.
Then, to add bruises to the blushes, they were trumped by a modest New Zealand side. It was the worst defeat at home in 91 years and set alarm bells ringing at BCCI headquarters.
These drastic losses have fuelled debate about the direction Indian cricket is heading towards under Gambhir. It needs to be asked — how did a formidable Indian side crumble so dramatically? Did the new head coach inherit a team on the decline?
They say good teams evolve while empires fall apart. India probably missed the trick heading into the new season by not blooding youngsters soon enough. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the men who took Indian cricket to new heights season after season, are on the wane.
Task cut out
Indian cricket stands at a crossroads, and Gambhir has a monumental task ahead of him. The 43-year-old has defended his aging core, stating, “Transition or no transition, if that has to happen, it will happen. But I see some incredibly tough characters in that dressing room who are hungry to do well.” Beyond these words, Gambhir’s mind is likely focused on identifying players who can shape the future of Indian cricket. He began this process by promoting Washington Sundar during the New Zealand series, a move that paid off as the allrounder performed well. Gambhir is now betting on young talents like Andhra allrounder Nitish Reddy and Delhi pacer Harshit Rana.
Brave that he is, it’ll not be surprising to see him toss the duo into the choppy waters of international cricket over the next few weeks.
Need to avoid tactical missteps
India’s tactical frailties were exposed in both Sri Lanka and at home against New Zealand.
After losing 27 wickets to spin in Sri Lanka, the curators were ordered to dish out turners in Pune and Mumbai. With five regular Test stars — Shubman Gill, Rohit, Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel — failing on spin friendly Lankan surfaces, it was wishful thinking that the rest would do well in similar conditions at home.
Gambhir, himself a master at taming the wiles of Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, and Saeed Ajmal, couldn’t help but control the damage against lesser skilled bowlers. With Nathan Lyon looming in Australian conditions, India’s struggles against spin could persist.
The Tests against New Zealand also saw experts pointing out the flaws as India repeatedly stuttered on the field. Rohit Sharma did say that he was subpar while captaining the side, but whether he was nudged in his vulnerable moments by the coach or other members of the coaching staff remains unclear.
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Coach’s resolve put to the test
Gambhir’s playing career was characterised by grit and determination, with two standout examples being the 2009 Napier Test and the 2011 Cape Town Test. Against New Zealand in Napier, he batted for nearly two days to secure a hard-fought draw. However, his knocks of 93 and 64 at Newlands in Cape Town were even braver, given the challenging conditions, the match-series situation, and the quality of the bowling attack.
At Newlands, Gambhir batted for over five hours with a swollen left elbow to rescue India against the fiery pace duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Across the series, the left-hander notched up three scores of fifty-plus in four innings, playing a pivotal role in helping India draw the series for the first time on South African soil.
As a coach, he must instill that same resolve in his players against Australia even though he reckons it was much easier doing it as a player.
“You realise when you are playing, it’s a completely different thing to when you are coaching. You can only control certain things. You can’t just walk into the middle,” Gambhir had said recently.
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His mettle as coach will face its sternest test yet Down Under. While the recent setbacks have cast a shadow of doubt, they also present an opportunity for redemption. The challenge for Gambhir now is to channel his renowned fighting spirit into his coaching and inspire his players to bounce back.
Australia will not only test the technical and tactical preparedness of this Indian side but also its resilience. The series could well define Gambhir’s tenure as head coach and mark a turning point in India’s journey. For now, Gambhir’s focus must be on restoring confidence, refining strategies, and fostering unity within the squad.
It’s believed that redemption often lies just beyond the horizon of despair. Gambhir and his team must believe that their best days are ahead of them. If they do overcome this tough phase, it will serve as a blueprint for how champions rise from the ashes of defeat.