India lost both T20I series in Ireland and England and won only one ODI against England.
Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of Team India, continued to receive harsh criticism after their ODI series loss to England. After losing 0-2 to Ireland in T20Is, India also lost 0-4 in the T20Is and 1-2 in ODIs to England, finishing the UK tour with just one victory.
AB de Villiers, former South Africa captain, defended Gautam Gambhir's thinking. He believed that the head coach made traveling to England with several young players a top priority to provide them with exposure and experience in light of upcoming major competitions.
"Gambhir was possibly looking at the 2027 World Cup, possibly even the next T20 World Cup, and trying out new players, trying out those who have done well in the IPL, and trying to give those players experience in different conditions. That is the most significant aspect that stands out to me. When playing a T20 series in England, it is essential to avoid the IPL mindset.
You have to play each game according to the conditions you are confronted with. It was important for them to go through the process with a young team and realize that sometimes 170 is enough. Obviously, he would have loved to win, but I think it was a priority for him to take these youngsters to England," De Villiers said in a video on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers says the media will be at Gambhir’s throat following yet another ODI series loss and states that senior pros like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gambhir are guiding the team; when it comes to important occasions like ICC tournaments, it would be incorrect to have any doubts about India.
"Once again, the media is going ballistic looking at Gambhir's record with losing out in the ODI series against Australia, Sri Lanka, and now England—so three in a row; definitely feeling the pressure there. It's not ideal, with that T20 series against England being a whitewash and also feeling a bit of pressure in the Test arena.
But once again, when it comes to India and Gambhir, you speak about Rohit and Virat. When it comes to big tournaments and big games, you absolutely cannot fall for this team and their thinking,” he said.
India will next face the West Indies in an ODI series at home in September-October.
Gautam Gambhir will have a short break before the Sri Lanka Test series, as VVS Laxman will take over as head coach of the Indian team for the Zimbabwe T20Is and Asian Games in Japan.
AB de Villiers questioned if Laxman was being tested with plans to replace Gautam Gambhir or if it was a real hiatus. The former captain of South Africa, however, was adamant that India shouldn't make the switch just yet.
"VVS Laxman will be taking over the team in Zimbabwe. Is it just an opportunity to give Gambhir a rest, or are the selectors saying that maybe we start dibbling and dabbling at a new coach, giving Laxman the kind of experience he needs to take over? I don't believe they are there yet, and Gambhir is the guy to take them forward. He's built a really good support staff around him," he said.
Shreyas Iyer will want to get a win under his belt as the new India T20I captain when India faces Zimbabwe in a T20I series from July 23-26.