Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson reckons India have been inconsistent under head coach Gautam Gambhir due to constant chop and change in the team’s batting line-up. India has had mixed results under Gambhir since he took over the coaching baton from Rahul Dravid after 2024 T20 World Cup.
Under Gambhir’s tutelage, India won the 2025 Champions Trophy, Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, India haven’t been able to continue their home domination in Test cricket, losing series against New Zealand and South Africa.
Furthermore, India recently suffered six T20I losses on the UK tour, including two against Ireland.
Shane Watson said on Prime Video AU & NZ YouTube Channel, “The thing that you continue to see and the reason India have been inconsistent under Gambhir is the chopping and changing around the batting order all the time. Players are coming in and out always, and when the team is unsettled, be it the batting order or players coming in and out, that just makes it more difficult for the team to be consistent. That’s why India have been so inconsistent.”
However, Watson praised Gambhir for backing his players, including Sanju Samson.
“There are a lot of incredible things that Gambhir has brought to the Indian setup. There is no question about that. With the backing of players like Sanju Samson, Gambhir has done wonders for Samson. Samson repaid him and did some amazing things in the backend of the T20 World Cup. So there are a lot of great things Gambhir has brought.”
The former Rajasthan Royals all-rounder said India will be hard to beat if they don’t regularly change their playing combination.
“My belief is there is too much chopping and changing around the players under Gambhir. There needs to be a little more continuity there, and for world cricket, if they do that, they are going to be ridiculously hard to beat,” said Watson (via the aforementioned source).
India is currently facing the West Indies in a five-match T20I series.
