Gambhir Faces Mounting Pressure as India's Test Performance Falters: "No Excuses Left," Says Former Cricketer

Saturday - 28/06/2025 00:00

Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, faces increasing scrutiny after the team's struggles in Test cricket, highlighted by a recent defeat to England under Shubman Gill's captaincy. With only one win in the last nine Tests, including series losses to New Zealand and Australia, pressure mounts. Aakash Chopra emphasizes the need for results, noting the selectors' support.

Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian opener and current head coach, is facing increased pressure following the Indian team's concerning performance in Test cricket, despite their continued success in limited-overs formats, including a recent Champions Trophy victory.

Gautam Gambhir faces pressure amid India's Test struggles

India coach Gautam Gambhir (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The latest setback occurred at Headingley, where India, led by new captain Shubman Gill, suffered a five-wicket defeat against England. This loss compounds previous series defeats against New Zealand and Australia. Under Gambhir's leadership, India has managed to win only one of their last nine Test matches. This period includes a 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand and a 3-1 series loss to Australia, resulting in India relinquishing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

This slump in Test form has coincided with a transitional phase, marked by the retirements of veteran players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket following the series defeat against Australia. A relatively new team, under Gill's captaincy, is still finding its footing, but their start in England has been disappointing.

India’s Bowlers Hit Top Gear in Birmingham Nets | Arshdeep, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Prep Hard

Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra shared his analysis of the situation on his YouTube channel, advocating for patience with Gill while also cautioning about the increasing pressure on Gambhir. He stated, "There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. He has won two matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia, but we lost three to New Zealand, three to Australia, and now one to England. He has been losing and losing.”

Chopra emphasized that there are "no excuses left." He explained, "The selectors have given everything the coaching staff has asked for. So, if this is the case, then you also need to deliver the results. Period.”

With the England series finely balanced, Gambhir's leadership in the red-ball format is now under intense scrutiny.