Gautam Gambhir has opened up about his time as India’s head coach, acknowledging both the achievements and setbacks during his tenure. Gambhir took charge of the Indian team in July 2024 and has overseen major successes in white-ball cricket, including the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
At the same time, India faced difficult results in Test cricket, including series defeats against Australia in away conditions and losses to New Zealand and South Africa at home.
Speaking to broadcasters, Gambhir said his two-year stint had included both positive and challenging phases. He noted that taking responsibility for an international team naturally comes with periods of success and failure.
Gambhir on India’s Ups and Downs
Gambhir said he has experienced successes across formats that he will continue to value, while also accepting the failures that came during his time in charge.
He pointed out that the challenges were not limited to one format, with Test, ODI and T20 cricket all bringing different results. According to Gambhir, dealing with both sides of the game is part of taking on such a responsibility.
His tenure has coincided with a significant transition in Indian Test cricket following the departures of senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
India’s Test Team Going Through a Transition
Gambhir stressed that rebuilding the Test side will take time, particularly after the exit of players who contributed significant experience and match-winning performances for Indian cricket.
He said India have played reasonably good Test cricket since the England series, while acknowledging that the team remains a work in progress because of the scale of the transition.
According to Gambhir, the experience and achievements of Rohit, Kohli and Ashwin in red-ball cricket cannot be replaced immediately. He believes that consistently supporting the right young players can help India build a strong Test side capable of performing at the highest level for a long period.
Red-Ball Cricket Remains a Priority
Gambhir also highlighted the importance of developing younger players and making them understand the value of Test cricket. With several new faces entering the red-ball setup, he said their age and limited experience need to be considered as the team develops its next core.
He remains a strong advocate of Test cricket, stressing that a strong Test-playing nation is an important foundation for Indian cricket.
Following the white-ball matches against the West Indies at home, India are scheduled to travel to New Zealand for a multi-format series. They will then play white-ball matches against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at home before hosting Australia for a five-match Test series.
For Gambhir, strengthening India’s red-ball setup remains a key priority as the team moves through this period of transition.