India head coach Gautam Gambhir (Source: AFP)
Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach of the Indian Cricket Team in 2024, right after former coach Rahul Dravid led India to the T20 World Cup title, ending an 11-year wait for a senior ICC trophy.
He was awarded a contract based on his mentorship during Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2024 championship.
However, the Men in Blue have suffered more setbacks than victories since Gautam Gambhir took over the reins.
Adding salt to the wound, the 44-year-old’s latest crisis of a turbulent tenure at the top of Indian cricket is the form of the team, which had recently conquered the T20 World Cup 2026.
India hit a new rock bottom
The side’s first major assignment since the back-to-back T20 titles has seen an inexperienced crew of India’s generation lose five of six matches.
For the reigning world champions, who headed into the tour off the back of 16 consecutive T20I series wins, this tidal wave of losses has come as a nasty shock.
A 2-0 series whitewash against Ireland, a side to whom they had never previously lost, is being followed by further calamity against England, with the five-match series lost 3-0 with one match still to play.
Also read: Why Did India Lose T20I Series Vs England? Biggest Reasons Decoded
Over the last two years, India’s numerous streaks have been broken under Gautam Gambhir's tenure in both ODIs and tests.
That being said, in this article, take a look at all the shamebolic records achieved under Gambhir’s tenure, which will last till at least the end of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027.
All shameful firsts India achieved under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching set-up
- For 1st time, lost 30 wickets in a 3-match ODI Series
- For 1st time, bowled out under 50 runs at home
- For 1st time, lost the Test Series v New Zealand at Home
- For 1st time, failed to chase less than 200 Target at Home (Target 147, Wankhede)
- For 1st time, India got Whitewashed (3-0) in a Home Test Series ( vs New Zealand)
- Failed to qualify for the WTC final for 1st time since the tournament started.
- India became 1st Team to lose a Test match after scoring 5 centuries (Leeds)
- 1st time whitewashed at home Tests in back-to-back calendar years (New Zealand {0-3} and South Africa {0-2})
- For 1st time, South Africa chased 300+ runs against India
- For 1st time, lost home ODI Series versus New Zealand
- For 1st time, lost an ODI match at Indore
- For 1st time, lost an ODI Series decider against New Zealand
- Lost against Ireland for the first time in history
- For 1st time, India remained winless in five consecutive T20I matches
- For 1st time, lost an international match at Bristol
Other embarrassing feats India achieved during Gautam Gambhir’s coaching tenure so far
- After 27 years, India lost a Bilateral ODI series vs Sri Lanka
- After 45 years, India remained winless in a calendar year in ODIs
- After 36 years, India lost a Test v New Zealand at Home
- After 19 years, India lost a Test at Chinnaswamy
- After 12 years, lost a Home Test Series
- After 12 years, lost back-to-back home tests
- After 12 years, lost the Test match at Wankhede
- After 47 years, lost 3 consecutive Home Tests
- After 13 years, lost the Test match at Melbourne
- After 10 years, lost back-to-back Test Series
- After 10 years, the Lost Border Gavaskar Trophy
- After 12 years, India lost 3 matches against Australia in a Test Series
- India failed to defend 350+ runs only for the 2nd time in 92 years of Test History (Leeds)
- Only for 2nd time, India failed to chase a target of less than 200 against England (Target 190, Lords)
- After 11 years, conceded 600+ runs (Manchester)
- After 17 long years, lost the ODI at Adelaide
- After 15 years, lost the Test match vs South Africa at Home
- After 8 years, India lost an international match at Eden Gardens (after 9 straight wins)
- India failed to chase the 124 target; their lowest failed chase at home
- After 25 years, lost the Home Test Series at the hands of South Africa
What’s next for Team India and Gautam Gambhir?
After a rare series loss to England and Ireland, Team India and head coach Gautam Gambhir are currently in a crucial "reset" phase, rebounding from an ongoing U.K. tour..
Gautam Gambhir has publicly backed the rebuilding process, emphasising that the team is consciously giving young players trial runs even if it results in short-term setbacks.
“Everyone in a batting lineup starts playing high risk high rewards sometimes these things can happen so probably a middle order the experience guys who played enough international cricket needs to adapt and probably play according to the situation as well,” explained Gautam Gambhir after the 3rd India vs England T20I.
Thus, their immediate focus is finishing the T20I series, followed by an upcoming ODI series against England and preparing for an extensive multi-format schedule for the coming months, the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and the most important 2027 World Cup.
Also read: Gautam Gambhir's Future As India Head Coach In Doubt; BCCI Cracks The Whip
