WTC glory needs specialists, not stopgaps — Gautam Gambhir must rethink his Test approach

Time of India

19 hours ago

Mohammed Siraj with India coach Gautam Gambhir. (Getty Images)
NEW DELHI: As an age-old adage goes in cricket, "Batters win you games, but bowlers win you tournaments." Sadly,
Team India
's head coach
Gautam Gambhir
doesn't believe in this theory when it comes to Test cricket.
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Since he has taken over the role of head coach of Team India, results have been a mixed bag. In T20Is, India are world champions, and given the depth of talent with
Jasprit Bumrah
in it, they are going to dominate world cricket for a while. The future of one-day cricket is in a fix, but India under Gambhir did win the 2024 Champions Trophy, with two of the best in the format -- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli -- backed by a four-pronged spin attack. In two years' time, even without these two stalwarts, this
Indian cricket
team can win the next World Cup in South Africa and put that November 19 ghost behind them.
Gautam Gambhir's fiery press conferences: Every time the India head coach lost his cool
Gambhir's predecessor, Rahul Dravid, has called the depth in India's white-ball talent "scary," and he is right because it is a well-oiled system that will produce results.
Arguably, the most challenging job for any coach and captain is Test cricket, the format which is probably the epitome of the sport. Test cricket tests the character of individuals, and you need strategy, and most importantly, you need bowlers who can take 20 wickets and win you matches.
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Undo
Twice India have come agonisingly close to winning the World Test Championship (WTC), only to finish second.
Poll
Should Kuldeep Yadav have been included in the playing XI during the recent series against England?
Yes, he's a valuable asset.
No, the current strategy was justified.
Under Gautam Gambhir, India have played 15 Test matches, winning five and losing eight, including an embarrassing series defeat at home to New Zealand, their first in 12 years. His red-ball tactics have raised eyebrows; his rigidity in prioritising batting depth over balance, and his decision to keep Kuldeep Yadav on the bench, cost India a golden chance to bury the Bazballers once and for all. India did manage to draw the series, thanks to a spirited performance backed by the extraordinary skill of
Mohammed Siraj
, but they should have beaten toothless England.
In the Delhi cricket circuit, there is a famous line about Gautam Gambhir: "If he likes you, he will go beyond to make sure that you are in the playing XI, and if he doesn't, you won't be near the premises of the Arun Jaitley Stadium." Gambhir has had his fair share of controversies since his playing days, and he is still abrasive as a coach. "You are just a groundsman," he hurled towards Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis in an argument.
It is Delhi's equivalent of slang like "teri aukaat kya hai? (what is your status?)"
Coming back to cricket, there were so many loopholes in Gambhir's strategy in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. On mostly flat England decks, wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who had floored England at home on similar pitches with 19 wickets in four Tests, was carrying drinks. The reason given was that the management wanted batting depth.
There were three Indians in the top five leading run-getters of the series; Harry Brook managed to pip Rishabh Pant by two runs as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter missed the Oval Test due to injury.
Kuldeep Yadav (Getty Images)
Is Kuldeep completely a dud with the bat?
No, coach Gambhir, he isn't. He is not flashy, but he knows how to put a price on his wicket. Remember his 131-ball vigil in Ranchi, where he scored 28 and forged a 76-run stand for the eighth wicket with Dhruv Jurel? India eventually won the match.
In Dharamsala again, he scored a valuable 30. A few years ago, on a dicey Chattogram pitch, he faced 114 balls for his 40, and his all-round display earned him the Player of the Match award.
Forget Kuldeep, what was the point of sending Akash Deep as night watchman at Lord's when you had an accomplished lower-order batter in Washington Sundar, fresh from his beautiful spell? India could have used Akash Deep's lusty blows when
Ravindra Jadeja
was trying hard to farm the strike in the fourth innings.
Anshul Kamboj was called in as an injury replacement for Arshdeep Singh and was given a Test debut at Old Trafford, probably the flattest pitch of the series. He looked all at sea, and the reasoning was that they wanted him for the overcast conditions. The most suitable place for Anshul or even Arshdeep to bowl was on the spicy The Oval pitch, but they were carrying drinks.
India's No. 3 has been reduced to a game of musical chairs. Sai Sudharsan played the first Test but was dropped at Edgbaston. Karun Nair, who was India's designated No. 6 at Headingley, got the opportunity and played the next two Tests, but was later dropped at Old Trafford. Coach Gambhir's reasoning was that no one in his side is dropped, they are just looking for good balance. Karun did make a comeback at The Oval because Pant was out and India were looking to strengthen the batting, and Washington Sundar, who had scored a match-winning century at No.
6 in the fourth Test, was batting at No. 8.
Yes, India did manage to steal a series draw against England, but they should have won it, and coach Gambhir needs to reflect on his philosophy going forward.
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