With India’s recent performance in the longest form of the game, Gautam Gambhir’s coaching stint as head coach has landed under close scrutiny rather soon. Hired on July 9, 2024, after guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to a victorious IPL title, hopes were high. But six months on, with India losing vital Test matches both at home and overseas, hopes have given way to grave doubts. As India fall behind 0-1 in the five-Test series against England, the fans and pundits alike are questioning whether India team head coach Gambhir is the correct man for the task, particularly in red-ball cricket with many already calling on the BCCI to sack Gautam Gambhir if results don’t improve quickly.

How’s Gautam Gambhir’s Coaching Career?

The Journey Begins 👍 👍

Shubman Gill 🤝 Gautam Gambhir #TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @ShubmanGill | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/5i7nU0ggzz

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2025

Test Failures Raise Questions

His coaching career so far in red-ball cricket has a disappointing image. Following a whitewash 2-0 clean sweep against Bangladesh, India then endured a stunning 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand their first home Test series defeat in more than a decade. Things only took a turn for the worse in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India was surrendered a 1-0 lead and went on to lose the series 1-3 to Australia, failing to make it to the ICC World Test Championship final. The recent jolt came in Leeds, where Shubman Gill’s inexperienced team, despite making 471 in the first innings, couldn’t hold on to 371 in the fourth innings as England pinched a five-wicket victory.

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲! 💪#TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/sbG7VLfXGc

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 23, 2024

T20 Wins Provide Contrast

These losses have led to increasing demands for Gautam Gambhir’s ouster, particularly from aggrieved fans irate at India’s lack of spirit in do-or-die situations. But there is stark contrast if one takes into consideration India’s performance in T20Is with the same coach. Gambhir’s T20 career reads 11 victories in 13 games, including comprehensive series wins against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and South Africa. Even in the current series against England, India is ahead 2-1 with two games to go. The Men in Blue have yet to be defeated in T20 series under his captaincy, making the coaching appear much more effective in white-ball cricket.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 💙

Head Coach Gautam Gambhir 🤝 Hardik Pandya address the dressing room as the action now shifts to the ODIs in Colombo #TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @GautamGambhir | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/PFrTEVzdvd

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 31, 2024

ODI Performances

In ODIs, however, the story mirrors the Test woes. India’s only 50-over series under Gambhir was against Sri Lanka, and it ended in a 1-2 defeat India’s first such loss to the Lankans in 27 years. Despite a tied first game, the team faltered in the remaining two, raising yet another red flag. This mixed bag of results has made Gambhir’s appointment a topic of national debate, with people questioning whether the highs of T20s can excuse the lows elsewhere for India team head coach Gambhir.

One Coach for All Formats：A Flawed Strategy?

India’s system of having one head coach for all three formats has come under renewed scrutiny amid Gautam Gambhir’s coaching challenges. The logic behind this model is simple: to maintain a consistent philosophy, ensure clear communication across formats, and avoid the administrative hassle of multiple appointments. In theory, it should lead to a unified dressing room atmosphere and better long-term planning. But in practice, it hasn’t been as seamless.

The demands of Test cricket versus T20s are drastically different. While T20 requires short bursts of innovation and tactical flexibility, Test matches demand long-term strategic thinking, stamina, and mental endurance. Gambhir’s IPL success clearly translating into T20 dominance hasn’t shown similar effects in the longer format. Some believe that India team head coach responsibilities should be split among format-specific experts to get the best out of each squad, especially as younger, format-focused players enter the fray. Others argue that a single head coach ensures harmony and long-term vision.

Yet, as we see the same coach struggling with one format while excelling in another, the cracks in this structure are becoming too obvious to ignore. If the BCCI is serious about lifting all-format trophies, they may have to rethink this one-size-fits-all approach. The journey of Gautam Gambhir as an India coach so far illustrates both the pros and pitfalls of this system, especially when transition phases in Indian cricket require more tailored attention. Unless a more format-specific strategy is adopted soon, the pressure to sack Gautam Gambhir may continue to grow with each red-ball defeat.

Is This the End If India Lose to England?

As India stares down the barrel in the ongoing series against England, speculation is rife over whether Gautam Gambhir’s coaching stint is already nearing its end. Should India lose this series making it their third straight red-ball series defeat under Gambhir the clamour to sack Gautam Gambhir will likely reach a fever pitch. With no Test series wins outside of Bangladesh under his leadership and a historic WTC final miss already under his belt, the pressure is immense.

Apart from victory against Australia at Perth last year, India have not won any matches in their last 9 Tests under coach Gautam Gambhir. pic.twitter.com/wvoQ4R9pOy

— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) June 24, 2025

Still, a total sacking may not be immediate. The BCCI is known for its patience with high-profile appointments, and Gambhir’s T20 successes could earn him a longer leash, especially with the T20 World Cup around the corner. But make no mistake: if India fails to bounce back against England and continues to fumble in red-ball cricket, the board may either look for a red-ball-specific coach or quietly phase Gambhir out in 2025. In that case, the mounting calls to sack Gautam Gambhir could turn into an inevitable decision rather than just public outcry.

Conclusion

The next four Tests in the series will not only determine India’s standing in the new WTC cycle but also decide the fate of India team head coach Gambhir. Can he bounce back and regain faith, or will this be the chapter that closes his coaching journey with Team India? Either way, the coming weeks will provide an answer, perhaps a harsh one for Gautam Gambhir’s coaching legacy.

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