Winning trophies doesn’t silence every critic and Indian coach Gautam Gambhir knows that better than most. Fresh off India’s title-winning campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian head coach addressed questions around his record in red-ball cricket. While the T20 triumph against New Zealand on Sunday made him the first Indian head coach to win two ICC trophies, some critics continue to point at India’s recent struggles in Test cricket.
Gautam Gambhir became the first Indian coach to experience two home Test series whitewashes, firstly against New Zealand in 2024 and secondly, a 2-0 defeat to South Africa in 2025. But he believes there’s more to the story than just results.
Speaking about the criticism, Gautam Gambhir explained that the Test team is going through a transition phase. He said many senior players retired within a short span and several of their replacements are very young, mostly between 22 and 24 years old. According to him, Test cricket is a demanding format and young players need patience and time to grow.
He also pointed out how difficult it is to replace experienced stars so quickly. In his view, supporting young cricketers is essential, not just for the coaching staff but for the entire cricketing ecosystem. Without that backing, he feels the team’s rebuilding process in red-ball cricket will take even longer. At the same time, he expressed confidence in India’s white-ball strength, saying the country consistently produces talent and plays plenty of limited-overs cricket.
India were captained by Shubman Gill in the South Africa Test series but the young skipper even fell ill during the first match, making a tough situation harder. However, Gautam Gambhir also noted that during the 3-0 home whitewash against New Zealand, the first such result in that rivalry, experienced players like Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma were part of the squad.
Sharing his mindset on public criticism, Gautam Gambhir said he stays focused on doing his job with honesty. He emphasised that his responsibility is toward the players in the dressing room and to himself. As long as he is supporting the team sincerely and working in the best interest of Indian cricket, outside noise doesn’t bother him.
For Gautam Gambhir, it’s simple – rebuild with belief, trust the process and stand firmly behind the next generation.
