After the Headingley defeat, Gautam Gambhir said the pain of loss is the same whether the team has experience or not, and it’s 1.4 billion Indians who are responsible. This is what he said after past red-ball failures despite initial optimism after his Kolkata Knight Riders IPL success.
Gambhir’s tenure started with an ODI series loss to Sri Lanka and then found hope after a Test series win against Bangladesh. But then Test performances declined sharply, while white-ball success continued. BCCI gave him the players he asked for, but Test results remained elusive, and he failed to deliver to the fans.
The home Test series against New Zealand was supposed to be the start of a new phase but it soured quickly with a loss to Kiwis and then to Australia. This was India’s first home series loss in 12 years and raised questions about Gambhir’s suitability for the red-ball format based on white-ball achievements.
Gambhir’s tenure has seen some unwanted records, including an ODI series loss to Sri Lanka after 27 years and the lowest total by any Asian team in a home Test match.
This Test series against England is crucial for Gambhir to prove himself. Anything less than a series win or draw will be a failure considering India’s standards. Headingley Test showed a lack of planning against England’s aggressive play style, and raised questions about pitch assessment and team selection.
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Repeating mistakes since the New Zealand series is hurting India, especially since this England team is weaker on paper and should be beatable. Losing this series will jeopardize India’s WTC hopes and Gambhir’s role as coach. His lack of clear direction is a big worry.
If India lose this series, the question remains: Should Gambhir stay on as head coach?
