When Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the coach of India’s cricket team, it was anticipated as a blessing. Fans and players alike were elated, seeing it as a well-deserved reward for his hard work and tenacity. Many believed he was the right leader to instill an aggressive spirit, contrasting the calmer approach associated with Rahul Dravid.
Gambhir brought a fierce, uncompromising attitude — “my way or the highway” — which was expected to boost India’s performance. However, this approach quickly appeared to undermine the team’s success.
India recently suffered a historic loss to New Zealand, marking their first Test defeat to them at home in 36 years. Now, they’re on the verge of potentially losing a home Test series to New Zealand for the first time in 70 years. These outcomes suggest a new and concerning direction for the team.
The “IPL mentality” — an aggressive, quick-reward approach suited to T20 formats — doesn’t seem to align with the demands of Test cricket. In the IPL, bold strokes and rapid-fire scoring may thrive, but Test cricket requires a more measured and strategic approach.
In Test matches, success often hinges on patience, sensible decision-making, and adaptability. A single session may not win a game, but a poorly played session can certainly lose it. This was starkly illustrated on the second day of the recent Test when India lost nine wickets for a paltry score, handing the momentum to New Zealand.
Compounding the problem, the leadership duo of Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma appears to lack coherence. Frequent changes in the lineup, questionable field placements, and inconsistent use of key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah have weakened India’s strengths.
India’s recent success at home has largely depended on the dominance of their bowlers, not just their batting.
The last decade saw bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel keep India’s winning record intact. Yet, under the current leadership, India’s bowling prowess seems to be fading.
This shift raises pressing questions for India’s think tank, particularly for Gambhir and Sharma. Are they focused on winning the game, or simply playing flashy cricket?
A test match is a unique competition, and its name captures its essence: a test of patience, skill, and endurance. Without this balance, even a superior batting lineup will struggle to stay competitive.
India’s recent victory over Bangladesh was over-hyped, celebrated as if they had beaten Australia in a grueling series. But Bangladesh is not New Zealand, and the latter came prepared.
Ironically, this same New Zealand team was handily defeated by Sri Lanka just three weeks prior, conceding over 600 runs and being bowled out for under 100. Yet, when they arrived in India, they played as though they were the ones with a winning streak.
This situation underscores a critical issue with Gambhir’s leadership style, one that seems overly focused on the short-format mindset: trying to dominate each session with high-risk shots rather than respecting the unique demands of Test cricket.
Beyond entertainment, Test cricket tests patience, resilience, and skill. The challenge now for Gambhir and Sharma is to recalibrate their approach — to find a balance between aggression and caution, and to reignite the composure and strategic depth that once defined Indian Test cricket.
