Since Gambhir took over as head coach in July 2024, India have lost two home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa and were thrashed by Australia Down Under. The only silver lining in Tests under his stewardship has been a creditable 2-2 away series draw against England.
Gautam Gambhir isn’t bothered by the “outside noise” and the brickbats hurled at him after a string of poor results, saying his focus firmly remains on “winning trophies for India”.
Asked about the criticism directed at him, Gambhir retorted in his inimitable manner. “Criticism? My job is to win trophies. That’s all I believe in. That is the difference between me and everyone else.
I don’t care about views or likes,” Gambhir said during a pre-match press conference here on Saturday.
“I wish I could tell you about the conversation between the head coach and the chairman of selectors. It’s only about how we want to move forward in cricket, what is important and what are the right decisions to make for the betterment of the game. So, it’s probably only about cricket and how we see the game progressing,” he added.
India’s last Test rubber win abroad was against the West Indies in July 2023. Earlier reporting noted: If India happen to complete a 2-0 clean sweep, they will have a chance to go up to the fourth spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings with 57.58 percentage points. Earlier reporting noted: Looking ahead to the second Test commencing on Sunday, Gambhir said: “Even if you score 1,000 runs, you still have to get 20 wickets; that’s how you win matches.
Since then, India lost to Australia and shared the series with South Africa and England away from home. India are currently placed fifth in the World Test Championship table behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. In this interim, the defeats at home against New Zealand and South Africa also dimmed the halo around this Indian Test outfit. So be it three left-arm spinners or an off-spinner or three seamers, we will take a call on what is the best team suited for this surface, it is about the team and the results.”
Earlier reporting noted: Substantial knocks from skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will fill the remaining blank columns as India push for their first overseas Test series victory in three years during the second and final match against Sri Lanka, starting in Colombo on Sunday.
