Aakash Chopra opens up on Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach in Tests

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on Gautam Gambhir’s stint as India’s head coach in Test cricket. Gambhir took over the coaching baton from former head coach Rahul Dravid after the 2024 T20 World Cup. 

While Gambhir has savored success in the white-ball format, the team’s performances in the red-ball version has been worrying. After winning the home Test series against Bangladesh, India suffered a 3-0 loss against New Zealand despite playing at home.

India then suffered a 3-1 series loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy and thus failed to qualify for the World Test Championship for the first time in three cycles. 

India were recently able to turn the tables under Gambhir’s tutelage as Shubman Gill’s team drew the five-match Test series against England by 2-2.

“Gautam Gambhir has been the coach in 15 Tests, of which India have won five, lost eight, and two have been drawn. The win percentage is 33.33, which is not great. However, it’s also true that India are going through a transition in Test cricket, and transition is painful,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“India have struggled a little in Test cricket. What happened against New Zealand was slightly surprising and worrying. That was definitely bad. In that backdrop, you went to Australia, and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test careers ended there. They didn’t retire there, but they didn’t play Test matches after that,” he added.

Chopra noted that things have started to turn under Gambhir’s tenure after a rough start in Test cricket, highlighting the positives from the England tour.

“The transition is not yet fully completed. A young gun team has been prepared which went and drew the series in England. A new captain scored 750 runs at No. 4, KL Rahul got established as an opener, and things are looking up one more time. The start wasn’t good. Not qualifying for the Test Championship was a serious blow, but things have started looking up now,” he elaborated.

Under Gambhir, a special importance has been given to bowlers who can bat. Chopra said Gambhir likes bowlers who can also contribute with the bat.

“One imprint is being seen in his coaching tenure, that he likes bowlers who can bat, whether it’s Washington Sundar or Shardul Thakur, and Ravindra Jadeja has been given more responsibility. Sometimes you feel that Kuldeep Yadav is getting left out because of that, but I am sure Kuldeep would have a role when they play at home,” he said.

Gambhir’s next coaching assignment is the Asia Cup.