Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Gambhir Dismisses Criticism, Says India’s Focus Is Winning Trophies
Gautam Gambhir is India’s head coach for Test cricket.
Some people have criticized him because India has lost several recent Test series.
Gambhir said his main job is to help India win trophies.
He said he does not worry about online opinions, views or likes.
India is currently fifth in the World Test Championship rankings.
Gambhir said rankings do not matter and that India has played reasonably since its England tour.
He supported young players and said they should be given time to improve.
He also said captain Shubman Gill decides how much Kuldeep Yadav bowls.
Gambhir wants more Test series to include three matches instead of two.
Gautam Gambhir said winning trophies for India matters more to him than criticism, views or likes.
India has lost Test series against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia during Gambhir’s tenure.
India is fifth in the World Test Championship standings, but Gambhir said the team is not struggling.
Gambhir backed Kuldeep Yadav and young players Manav Suthar and Devdutt Padikkal.
He urged authorities to consider three-Test series instead of two-Test contests.
- Who
- India head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shubman Gill, selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, and India’s Test team.
- What
- Gambhir defended his record, dismissed criticism, discussed team selection and backed longer Test series.
- When
- At a pre-match press conference on Saturday, before India’s second Test against Sri Lanka.
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka; the second Test was scheduled in Colombo and the first was played in Galle.
- Why
- Gambhir said his priority is winning trophies for India and making cricket decisions that improve the team.
Gambhir’s Defense
Critics’ Concerns
India’s Test performance
Gambhir’s Defense
Gambhir said India is not struggling and has played reasonable Test cricket since the England tour.
Critics’ Concerns
Critics cited India’s fifth-place World Test Championship ranking and losses to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
Importance of rankings
Gambhir’s Defense
Gambhir said rankings do not matter and emphasized winning trophies instead.
Critics’ Concerns
The reports used India’s fifth-place ranking as evidence of the team’s difficult recent run.
Player selection and support
Gambhir’s Defense
Gambhir called for backing players through ups and downs and giving them a longer opportunity than one or two matches.
Critics’ Concerns
Questions remained over Kuldeep Yadav’s limited use and whether India would retain its winning combination for the second Test.
- World Test Championship position
- India is fifth, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
- Recent Test results
- Reports said India lost series against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, while drawing 2-2 in England.
- Recent first-Test result
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening Test.
- Gambhir’s priority
- Winning trophies for India, rather than responding to criticism, views or likes.
- Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling
- He bowled 25 overs across two innings in Galle; Gambhir said usage is sometimes the captain’s prerogative.
- Players praised
- Gambhir highlighted Manav Suthar and Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed 10 wickets and 211 runs respectively in the first Test.
- Proposed format change
- Gambhir said he would ideally prefer three-match Test series instead of two-match series.
