Former India opener and current head coach Gautam Gambhir is facing mounting pressure after Team India’s worrying run in Test cricket, despite continued success in white-ball formats including winning the Champions Trophy. The latest setback came at Headingley, where India, under new captain Shubman Gill, lost to England by five wickets. This adds to previous series defeats against New Zealand and Australia. India have now won only one of their last nine Tests under Gambhir’s watch. The stretch includes a 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand and a 3-1 loss to Australia that saw India surrender the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
This rough patch has coincided with a transition period marked by the retirements of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket following the Australia series loss. A fresh team under Gill’s leadership is still settling in, but the start in England has been disappointing. Former India batter Aakash Chopra analysed the situation on his YouTube channel, urging patience with Gill but warning of rising pressure on Gambhir. “There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. He has won two matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia, but we lost three to New Zealand, three to Australia and now one to England. He has been losing and losing.”Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? Chopra stressed there are no excuses left. “The selectors have given everything the coaching staff has asked for. So, if this is the case, then you also need to deliver the results. Period.” With the England series now finely poised, Gambhir’s leadership in the red-ball format is under the spotlight like never before
