Gautam Gambhir's Performance As India Head Coach: No Wins In ODIs, Test Troubles Persist

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team has been marked by a series of setbacks.

Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach after India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, but his tenure has been anything but smooth.

Source : PTI

Gautam Gambhir Performance As India Head Coach: Team India has endured a challenging phase under head coach Gautam Gambhir, with the latest setback coming in IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). A crushing defeat in Sydney dashed Indian cricket team's hopes of a historic third consecutive series win on Australian soil. India lost the BGT 1-3 against Australia.

Also, for the first time, India failed to qualify for World Test Championship (WTC) Final. India's 1-3 defeat against Australia in BGT 2024-25 marked India's second straight Test series loss under Gambhir, following a shocking 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand - the first time Kiwis swept India in a Test series.

Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach after India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, but his tenure has been anything but smooth.

India's first assignment under head coach Gautam Gambhir — a tour of Sri Lanka — saw a mixed start. While India won the T20 series, they were handed a 2-0 loss in the ODI series, marking their first ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years.

India's woes in ODI cricket extended throughout 2024, with the team failing to secure a single win in the format. Hopes of a revival on the Australia tour were high, but the team's struggles continued across formats, raising serious concerns about their form and strategy under Gambhir's mentorship.

Gautam Gambhir's tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team has been marked by a series of setbacks.

Despite securing the coaching staff of his choice, his era so far has been defined by underperformance. India suffered a defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, breaking a 28-year winning streak, and the team also lost a home Test series for the first time in 12 years. In addition, India conceded a 100+ run lead to the opposition in two consecutive home Tests, and lost Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) for the first time in 10 years.

These results have left many questioning whether Gambhir was the right choice to lead India after Dravid. 

After the disappointment of Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the focus now shifts to ICC Champions Trophy, which will serve as Gautam Gambhir's ultimate test as head coach. With high expectations from fans, the Indian team will be expected to at least reach the final, if not secure the trophy. Anything short of that will be considered a major setback for Gambhir.