Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach has begun on a challenging note, with consecutive Test series losses against New Zealand and Australia casting a shadow over his leadership. These defeats have sparked criticism, putting immense pressure on Gambhir as he prepares for the upcoming Champions Trophy—a potential turning point in his coaching career.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has called on Gambhir to reflect on his strategies and learn from his missteps. Drawing parallels to Rahul Dravid’s coaching journey, Kaif highlighted how Dravid, despite failing to secure an IPL title, adapted and ultimately led India to a historic T20 World Cup triumph.
“Gautam Gambhir should learn from the mistakes he has made,” Mohammad Kaif said during an Instagram live session. “Rahul Dravid didn’t win any IPL trophy but corrected his errors and spearheaded the team to victory in the T20 World Cup. Gambhir must adopt a similar approach.”
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India’s Test struggles began with a 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand, followed by a crushing 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Although India started strong with a dominant victory in Perth, their performance unravelled as they lost three of the next four matches, surrendering the trophy after a decade-long hold.
With no immediate Test assignments, India now shifts its focus to white-ball cricket. A packed schedule includes five T20Is and three ODIs against England, providing Gambhir with an opportunity to regroup and instill confidence in the squad ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The limited-overs series kicks off with the first T20I at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens on January 22. Subsequent matches will take place in Chennai (January 25), Rajkot (January 28), Pune (January 31), and Mumbai (February 2).
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The ODI leg will then be held in Nagpur (February 6), Cuttack (February 9), and Ahmedabad (February 12). This stretch of home games offers Gambhir a chance to demonstrate adaptability and resilience, proving he can guide the team to success in high-stakes tournaments.
