Gautam Gambhir faces one of the toughest tests of his coaching career as India’s Test team slips deeper into trouble, and criticisms have grown louder with Anil Kumble voicing serious concerns over the batting unit’s direction. Since Gambhir took charge in mid-2024, India has struggled for stability in red-ball cricket. His aggressive methods delivered quick results in white-ball formats, but Tests have exposed recurring issues, and the team now risks losing a second home series.

South Africa dominated the first Test in Kolkata and arrived in Guwahati with the momentum, threatening a 2–0 whitewash. The collapse in Guwahati exposed a structural problem: a frequently shuffled top order following the retirement or absence of senior pillars.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Tests in May, Cheteshwar Pujara stepped away in August, Ajinkya Rahane has been out of the setup since mid-2023, and now Shubman Gill is sidelined with a neck injury. That sudden void at the top has left India scrambling for settled options. Anil Kumble, speaking on JioHotstar, made the point bluntly: the batting unit’s instability is the root cause.

ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana Wedding Postponement Sparks Social Media Frenzy as Rumours Run Wild

“Over the last three or four years you’ve seen four batters in the top five either retire or not be picked,” he said, highlighting how constant chopping and changing has unsettled the lineup. Gambhir’s experimentation — trying Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and others at different positions — has not yet produced a reliable No. 3 or No. 4, leaving youngsters exposed to quality attacks without a clear role.

The selection of inexperienced batters for crucial slots has forced makeshift solutions. Sundar’s gritty 48 and his 72-run stand with Kuldeep Yadav offered a brief patch of resistance, yet India were bundled out for 201 after South Africa piled up 489 — a scoreline that exposed both talent gaps and tactical shortcomings. The middle order’s failure to build on starts remains the central worry.

Anil Kumble warned that endlessly moving players around the order can erode confidence. “Changing the batting order again and again can shake a player’s rhythm and make it harder to settle into roles,” he said. That instability, he argued, reduces the chance for players to develop rhythm and temperament in the longest format.

WATCH – Ravindra Jadeja Stuns Aiden Markram With Absolute Jaffa On Day 4 of Guwahati Test

Supporters and former players now ask whether patience and a longer run for selected players might stabilise the Test side. Gambhir faces a delicate choice: continue experimenting to discover future stars or back experienced options to steady the ship. With World Test Championship implications and a busy calendar ahead, selectors and coach must decide quickly whether continuity and clarity of roles will be prioritised. Kumble recommended giving players a proper run — six Tests — to find form and role. He also hinted selectors should pick experienced campaigners, rather than constantly gambling on unproven names, and show patience consistently.