Archive · 31 Aug 2026
India’s Test Struggles Renew Calls To Replace Gambhir
India played Sri Lanka in a Test cricket match in Colombo.
India had a chance to win after making Sri Lanka bat again, but Sri Lanka managed to survive the entire fifth day.
Sonal Dinusha scored important centuries and helped Sri Lanka avoid defeat.
India missed fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, while Mohammed Shami was also unavailable.
India’s spin bowlers did not take enough wickets on a pitch offering turn and bounce.
Some people also questioned why Kuldeep Yadav was left out.
Ravichandran Ashwin criticized the team’s decision and said Kuldeep should have been supported.
The result made India’s path to the World Test Championship final more difficult.
The article argues that India should consider a new Test coach, while Gautam Gambhir continues to have backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
India drew the second Test in Colombo after failing to dismiss Sri Lanka on the final day, despite enforcing the follow-on.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami weakened India’s pace attack and raised workload and selection concerns.
India’s spinners struggled, while Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion because of an infection was criticized by Ravichandran Ashwin.
Sonal Dinusha scored centuries in both innings, including an unbeaten 132 that helped Sri Lanka secure the draw.
India now reportedly need at least five wins and a draw from their remaining seven Tests to keep their World Test Championship hopes alive.
- Who
- India, coached by Gautam Gambhir and led in Tests by Shubman Gill, drew against Sri Lanka.
- What
- India failed to win the second Test after enforcing the follow-on, drawing the two-Test series 1-0.
- When
- The result came during India’s Test series in Sri Lanka; the article also refers to upcoming Tests later in the year.
- Where
- The second Test was played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Sri Lanka batted through the final day, while India lacked the bowling effectiveness of key absent pacers and received limited impact from its spinners.
Replace Gambhir
Retain Gambhir
Test coaching performance
Replace Gambhir
The article argues that India’s poor Test results under Gautam Gambhir, including home series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa, justify appointing a separate Test coach.
Retain Gambhir
Gambhir continues to have significant backing from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and the article notes that he has a strong record as India’s white-ball coach.
Responsibility for the Colombo draw
Replace Gambhir
Critics say India lacked a killer instinct, used its spinners in short spells, and failed to manage the match effectively after enforcing the follow-on.
Retain Gambhir
India’s bowling options were weakened by the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, while Sri Lanka’s recovery was driven by Sonal Dinusha’s exceptional batting.
Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion
Replace Gambhir
Ravichandran Ashwin argued that India should have backed Kuldeep Yadav and questioned his omission from the second Test.
Retain Gambhir
The team management left Kuldeep out because of an infection and selected Saransh Jain, although Jain had an unsuccessful debut according to the article.
- Series result
- India won the two-Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0.
- Second Test result
- Sri Lanka finished on 402/9 in its second innings to secure a draw.
- Key Sri Lankan performer
- Sonal Dinusha scored 103 in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 132 in the second.
- Absent fast bowler
- Jasprit Bumrah missed the series after failing to recover from a knee injury sustained during the ODI series in England.
- Spin performances
- Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets, Saransh Jain took three, and Manav Suthar took six in the Test.
- World Test Championship outlook
- India reportedly need at least five wins and a draw from their remaining seven Tests, while also relying on other results.
- Upcoming schedule
- India are set to play two Tests in New Zealand and five against Australia.