After the T20 World Cup triumph, it is worth debating, if Gautam Gambhir should continue as the all-format coach.
Let us just credit Gautam Gambhir, where it is due. The man, despite all the criticism, took the Indian team to their third T20 World cup triumph. This after the Champions Trophy win in 2025, and the Asia Cup win as well. Not only the title happened under extreme pressure of being the favorites, but it also came against the odds — where no team had ever two World Cups back-to-back, and never done it at home.
Often the coach is criticised when the team fails, but hardly gets the accolades when such a big victory comes. And Gautam Gambhir and his contribution should not be forgotten at all, at all. He should be rewarded, if at all, with an extension in contract, which runs until the end of the 2027 World cup.
What Gautam Gambhir did right?
Sticking with Sanju Samson: Entire JAN, Sanju Samson failed in the NZ series, and the kind of resources India has, they could have very well gone ahead with some other batter. But the faith in the batter repaid; credit to GG here.
Faith in Abhishek Sharma & Varun Chakravarthy: VC wasn’t at his very best, and despite that finished as the joint highest wicket-taker in the tournament. There was the option of Kuldeep Yadav in the team, but GG managed to stick with the bowler. Similarly, the coach gave enough confidence to Abhishek, despite failing in all of World Cup, to score in the final, and his 18-ball 50, handed the match early to India.
Gambhir record as coach
Gambhir has touched new heights in the white-ball formats. During his tenure — India has gone on to win 34 T20Is and lost only 6. In the ODIs, 11 wins and 12 losses is the record for now — which is bound to improve. Yes, series losses have come against Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, but he gives enough confidence to improve upon that.
| Coach | Tenure | Tests (W-L-D) | ODIs (W-L) | T20Is (W-L) | Total Wins |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2024–Present | 7–10–2 | 11–12 | 34–6 | 52 |
| Rahul Dravid | 2021–2024 | 14–7–3 | 43–18 | 46–12 | 103 |
| Ravi Shastri | 2017–2021 | 25–13–5 | 51–22 | 45–19 | 121 |
| Anil Kumble | 2016–2017 | 12–1–4 | 8–5 | 2–2 | 22 |
| Duncan Fletcher | 2011–2015 | 13–15–10 | 65–37 | 18–12 | 96 |
| Gary Kirsten | 2008–2011 | 16–6–11 | 57–29 | 9–9 | 82 |
| Greg Chappell | 2005–2007 | 7–4–7 | 32–27 | 1–0 | 40 |
| John Wright | 2000–2005 | 21–15–15 | 68–56 | 0–0 | 89 |
| Anshuman Gaekwad | 1997–1999 | 4–5–8 | 30–28 | N/A | 34 |
| Ajit Wadekar | 1992–1996 | 12–5–13 | 38–39 | N/A | 50 |
But now, the big question that arises is, should he be persisted with, in Tests? Rohit Sharma retired since he was not able to score, similar was the case with Virat Kohli, so why should Gambhir stay in Tests, perhaps the most important format? There, he lost two home series; whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa at home. So that is just not acceptable.
In his tenure, he has lost a massive 10 Tests and won only 7. Australia away series was also lost — where India had won the last two series Down Under. England series ended in a 2-2 draw, where India could have won after 2007. The batting ability, spin-playing ability for batters seems to be on a decline, and some decisions have been poor overall.
It would only make sense to rope in someone like VVS Laxman, who has also served as an interim coach before. But again, the decision rests on the higher ups in the BCCI. But to cut the long story short, Gautam Gambhir should stay as the white ball coach, but maybe not as Test coach.
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