If an all-format coach’s report card depends mainly on the team’s performance in Test cricket under him, then Gautam Gambhir would need serious course-correction when he completes one year as India’s head coach with another tough assignment in England later this year.
Gambhir’s succesful run as mentor of the 2024 IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) landed him the coveted job from the BCCI, once Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended with the T20 World cup triumph last June. But Gambhir hasn’t had a smooth run in two of the three formats since his appointment, with only the T20I show of 6/6 wins being noteworthy.
Whether that points towards his expertise as a T20 coach is something for the BCCI to decide, but surely the scrutiny around his performance as coach, and that of his support staff, will be tighter from hereon.
The BCCI provided Gambhir with the support staff of choice, namely assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar (batting), Ryan ten Doeschate (fielding) and Morne Morkel (bowling) — all of who worked with Gambhir in a similar capacity during his mentoring tenures in the IPL.
After the 1-3 defeat in the five-Test series in Australia, which ended with a six-wicket loss in the Sydney Test, there have been questions asked about why Gambhir and his coaching staff couldn’t fix the skill-based problems, especially in batting, highlighted by Virat Kohli’s repeated caught-behind dismissals.
Here’s a look at Gambhir’s record as India coach so far across formats:
| Format | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw/Tie | Win% |
| Tests | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 30% |
| ODIs | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| T20Is | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
(India also played 4 T2oIs with VVS Laxman as coach)
Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was doing commentary in Australia for Star Sports, questioned Gambhir and his coaching staff.
“What was your coaching staff doing — the bowling coach, the batting coach? Against New Zealand, when we had been bowled for 46; and the way we were defeated in the remaining matches, our batting was not strong enough. Here (in Australia) also our batting was not strong enough. So questions should be asked, what have you guys done? Why can’t we see any improvement?” Gavaskar asked.
“We understand here the bowling was top class and our batters couldn’t face them, fine. Even the greatest batters have difficulty in facing good bowling. But when good bowling is not happening, then tell me what has the coaching staff done?”
