While India’s white-ball side has been performing exceptionally well under head coach Gautam Gambhir, producing trophies and strong win-loss records, that success has not translated to the traditional format.
With Gambhir at the helm, India have won seven, lost 10 and drew two of their 19 Tests so far, which includes a couple of clean sweeps against New Zealand (0-3) and South Africa (0-2) at home.
The team also conceded the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 in Australia. The only Test series wins under Gambhir's tenure have come against Bangladesh and the West Indies at home.
In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma wrote that Gambhir’s Test woes aren’t ending soon as India are a team in transition.
India have nine Tests remaining in the ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, including the tour of New Zealand, and Bavuma expects Gambhir to prepare himself for a challenging period ahead.
“When it comes to the red-ball stuff, India are definitely a team in transition. There is nothing unique about where India find themselves in Test cricket. India coach Gautam Gambhir has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and I think he is going to have to take it as it comes. He is going to have to find a way to buy himself time in the red-ball game, and I'm of the view that the performances in white-ball cricket may assist him,” Bavuma wrote.
“In limited-overs cricket, India have a lot of resources from which to select. The 2026 T20 World Cup is also in their favour, as it will be on home ground, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February-March. In ODIs, Kohli and Rohit will naturally take on a lot more responsibility from a performance and leadership point of view. So I think Gambhir will be okay in terms of his position. However, from a red-ball point of view, it's going to be tough for this Indian team in the near future.”
Speculations are rife that the BCCI may adopt split coaching, with Gambhir retaining the position as white-ball coach. However, he might be replaced in the Test setup.
Bavuma played down the idea, saying split coaching in 2026 isn’t the way forward. He expects Gambhir to complete his coaching contract with the Indian team.
“Some may speak more to the narrative that Gambhir should perhaps carry on with the white-ball stuff and let someone else fulfil the Test cricket duties. Splitting the red- and white-ball coaching roles was something we gave a go within the Proteas set-up back in 2023,” Bavuma stated.
“At the time there was sense behind the split rule. But now having one coach across all formats works a lot better for players from a continuity point of view. Moreover, it's advantageous from a philosophy and playing style point of view. I don't think a lot of teams are going with the split-format system anymore, and to be honest, I'm not really in favour of that rule. If anything, it just confuses the players, because in one format a certain type of language is spoken and then in another format, a couple of weeks later, you need to adjust. Gambhir's contract runs through to the 2027 ODI World Cup and India just need to back him.”
India’s white-ball side has been performing exceptionally well under Gautam Gambhir, producing titles such as the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and strong win-loss records.
If the Men in Blue manage to lift the upcoming T20 World Cup, Gambhir’s reputation as coach would only get stronger. However, Tests are where the bigger picture lies, and Bavuma believes Gambhir will be keen to prove his mettle.
“In terms of the way Gambhir controls his current group of Test players, I think it would be best to be clear and say: ‘Guys, it's going to be a tough few months on away tours but let's focus on the long term.’ But he is going to have to back his horses and, at some point, those horses are going to have to exit their pens and gallop for him,” he added.
