Former India player Aakash Chopra has added that Gautam Gambhir had a poor start as Team India’s head coach in Tests as well. However, he added that things have improved since then, considering their impressive performances in the Test series against England as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “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. 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.”
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“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 again shared.
However, Aakash Chopra also stated that Gautam Gambhir backed all-rounders, which potentially cost Kuldeep Yadav a place in the XI in England as well.
“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.
“Secondly, a few things have gotten fixed. Nos. 4 and 5 and the openers have gotten fixed. There are still slight questions about No. 3 and No. 6, but knowing Gautam, as we move forward, although his philosophy is that, barring the openers, the batting order is flexible in T20s, I think he won’t bring that philosophy into Test cricket. He will be very sure who he needs at No. 3 and No. 6,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
