Those familiar with Gautam Gambhir describe him as remarkably consistent, even noting his unchanging eating habits over the past two decades. He is not one for spontaneous changes, preferring his usual jeans for casual occasions. However, when it comes to cricket strategy, his mind is constantly active, seeking solutions to complex problems.
It has been eight months since Gambhir took over as the national team coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup victory in July. In this time, the Delhi native has experienced both significant victories and disheartening defeats. His tenure has included the high of winning the Champions Trophy and the low of suffering six Test match losses.
The Champions Trophy win provides a fresh perspective, allowing ‘Guru Gambhir’ to assess the broader picture as Indian cricket anticipates major shifts in the next two critical years.
It’s fair to say Gambhir has completed his initial evaluation period and is now entering a phase defined by three distinct challenges, starting with the Test series in England.
This series, as is typical, will follow immediately after the high-intensity IPL season, leaving little time for preparation.
His second major challenge is the 2026 T20 World Cup, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, where Suryakumar Yadav’s team will defend their championship.
Finally, and crucially, the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa presents a formidable challenge.
Looking at Gambhir’s coaching impact across different formats, he has already developed a strong core for the T20 team, led by Suryakumar Yadav. Despite the expected transitions with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja stepping back from the shortest format, their absence has been minimal. India’s new, aggressive T20 approach is gaining global fans.
He has also discovered a promising talent in Abhishek Sharma.
The bowling partnership of Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah in global T20 tournaments is proving to be a nightmare for opposing batsmen. Sanju Samson is performing well, and Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal are also key players.
Arshdeep Singh provides consistent wicket-taking in the powerplay, and there are at least three capable seam-bowling all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Shivam Dube.
Suryakumar and Axar Patel, along with Hardik Pandya, are experienced leaders within this team. This T20 squad is well-rounded and operates effectively with minor adjustments.
However, the other two formats will require Gambhir’s strategic thinking, discipline, and man-management skills to deliver results.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have indicated they are not retiring from ODIs soon, citing their continued performance, including in the Champions Trophy.
However, for the 2027 World Cup, Gambhir will likely need to move beyond relying on four specialist spinners and aiming for totals in the 240-250 range.
Scores are expected to be higher, and the question is whether Rohit’s aggressive starts, combined with Kohli’s anchoring role, will be sufficient.
While Rohit has stated he won’t retire, his participation in the 2027 World Cup is uncertain. This is where Gambhir will need to intervene, upholding his ‘team first’ philosophy.
He dislikes the superstar culture and values performance above seniority.
It would not be surprising if Gambhir seeks clarity from both the board and the national selection committee regarding Rohit’s role in the ODI plans, considering there are only 27 ODI matches before the World Cup.
Another key consideration is the next ODI captain. Shubman Gill is a strong ODI player and has been Rohit’s vice-captain, but Hardik Pandya is also a capable leader who effectively implements the coach’s strategies.
He demonstrated this leadership in Gujarat Titans, similar to his partnership with head coach Ashish Nehra.
In the near term, Gambhir must also address the challenges within the Test cricket squad.
If Rohit plays, and the top order includes Jaiswal and KL Rahul, the question arises about Shubman Gill’s place in the Test team.
Ensuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammad Siraj are in peak condition for series where swing and seam are crucial will also be vital.
Finally, the unresolved middle-order batting slot, a long-standing issue for India, needs attention. Will Karun Nair fit in, or should Shreyas Iyer regain his Test position? ‘Guru Gambhir’ faces tough decisions, but he has never shied away from making bold choices.
