Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach has sparked a fair share of debate, especially when it comes to Test cricket. While his white-ball record continues to shine, back-to-back Test series whitewashes at home have put him firmly under the scanner. Critics have questioned his heavy reliance on all-rounders. Still, Gambhir has stood his ground, pointing to his proven track record — including India’s Champions Trophy triumph and the thrilling 2-2 finish in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy earlier this year.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi — who shares a famously heated history with Gambhir — has weighed in with a sharp critique. Speaking to Telecom Asia Sport, Afridi claimed the former India opener often behaves as if he “can never be wrong”, suggesting Gambhir’s rigid approach is starting to show cracks.
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Afridi, however, offered full support to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma amid ongoing discussions about their ODI future. He insisted the iconic duo still possesses the hunger and quality required to compete at the highest level, even going so far as to say they can comfortably play in the 2027 World Cup.
“Virat and Rohit remain the backbone of India’s batting. The way they performed in the recent ODI series proves they can continue until 2027,” Shahid Afridi said, highlighting their recent Player-of-the-Series heroics against New Zealand and Australia.
Afridi also advised India to manage the workload of their senior stars smartly, suggesting they be rested against weaker opponents to ensure longevity and peak performance.
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Despite their impressive form, Gambhir has maintained that no player — not even Kohli or Rohit — is guaranteed a spot in the 2027 World Cup. His message has been consistent: focus on present challenges first, long-term decisions later.
As the debate intensifies, all eyes remain on Gambhir and his next steps in steering Indian cricket forward.
