India have won two ICC trophies with Gambhir at the helm of affairs.
Gautam Gambhir took over as India head coach from Rahul Dravid in July 2024. Since then, he has guided the team to two ICC titles -- Champions Trophy 2025 and T20 World Cup 2026 -- in addition to the Asia Cup 2025.
However, the white-ball success has not translated to the traditional format. With Gambhir at the helm, India have won nine, lost 10 and drew three of their 22 Tests so far, which includes a couple of clean sweeps against New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2) at home.
Ahead of India's next home season starting with three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies, Gambhir reflected on his two-year tenure, acknowledging both successes and failures across formats.
"The two years didn't pass in the blink of an eye. I think I've had my own share of ups and downs. I've had my own failures and successes. But again, I've always believed that when you take up that kind of responsibility, there will always be ups and downs. So, whether it was Test cricket, whether it is one-day cricket or T20 cricket, yes, I've had success, which obviously I will always cherish, but I've had my share of failures as well. Which, again, I accept with both hands," Gambhir told JioStar.
Gautam explained that his bond with Rohit goes beyond a standard professional dynamic because their association dates back to their playing days as teammates.
He highlighted their mutual understanding and said that while tactical disagreements can happen, final decisions always prioritize the best interests of Team India.
"Rohit and my relationship wasn't just of captain and coach. When Rohit came into the team, I was a senior player at that time, so Rohit and my relationship dates back to then. Rohit has known me since then. So, often when you have played together, things become very easy. And in fact, he knows my thinking; I know his thinking. Because tomorrow I might have some other thinking, the captain might have some other thinking, but ultimately, whatever is in the best interest of the team, if that's the final decision, then nothing can be better than that. And that's why I said that with all four captains I have worked with, this has been my experience with them, that everyone's focus has been Indian cricket," he added.
Gambhir praised all four captains -- Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer -- for consistently prioritizing the team above individual milestones during his tenure as India's chief coach.
Gambhir particularly commended Gill's impressive transition into leadership during a high-stakes, five-Test tour of England, comparing the baptism-by-fire scenario to being pushed into the deep sea where he successfully swam out.
"I have worked with four captains, Rohit, Surya, now with Shubman and Shreyas. All the captains I've worked with, everyone's first intention has always been team first. And I am very fortunate that I have worked with four such people who have always put the team ahead of themselves. Ideology can change, your thinking can change, your perspective on reading the game can change, but as long as your intention is right, it makes life a lot easier for any support staff. It started with Rohit, and when Surya became captain for T20, it was a different experience with both of them. With Shreyas, I had worked with him in KKR. Before that, when I handed over my captaincy to Shreyas in 2018 for Delhi, I felt that he had that leadership quality. Now, I have got the opportunity to work with him again. With Shubman, he is young. If you get captaincy on a tour of England, that too in five Test matches, and if you push someone into the deep sea, either you will swim out really well or you will drown. But the way Shubman has handled Test cricket has been brilliant, and I think we will see the best of Shubman in the coming years," he remarked.