Gautam Gambhir hits back at his critics (Source: AFP)
Team India crushed Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle earlier this week to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. The outcome also marked India’s only fifth Test win in the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle, and their first since suffering a humiliating 0-2 loss to South Africa at home last year.
India’s welcome win in the 2025-27 WTC cycle also brought some respite for India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has been coping much criticism from fans and cricket experts for India’s dwindling Test record in the last couple of years.
Ahead of India’s series-decider against Sri Lanka at Colombo, the cricketer-turned-coach shut down his critics with a blunt remark.
Gautam Gambhir addresses criticism from critics
While speaking with the reporters in a pre-match press conference in Colombo, India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that his primary focus is to win trophies for the national team instead of earning validation from his critics.
Also Read- Gautam Gambhir Brings Shubman Gill's Name Over Kuldeep Yadav's Underutilisation
The coach said “My job is to win trophies, not views and likes. That’s all I believe in, and that is going to be my opinion.”
Gautam Gambhir downplays ranking amid WTC 2025-27 race
In his blunt take, Gautam Gambhir also downplayed the current Test ranking of the Indian cricket team even though they are in the middle of a tense race in the ongoing 2025-27 WTC cycle.
He also took a dig at cricket experts for taking a swipe at him, and claimed that the Indian Test side is currently undergoing a transition phase.
According to Gambhir, Team India is also heading towards a “right direction” at the moment even though they suffered a humiliating home whitewash to South Africa less than a year ago.
He said “Rankings do not matter. I think we are going through a transition, and I’m sure that people sitting in the press box and the commentary box know that. Despite that, yes, there will be blips, there will be ups and downs, but since the England tour last year, I think we’ve played reasonably consistent cricket. We know where we are heading, and we are heading in the right direction.”
Why is Gautam Gambhir coping abuses from fans and experts
Gautam Gambhir took over as India coach in mid-2024 after the exit of Rahul Dravid. Even though the former opening batter has guided Team India to a comprehensive 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup wins, the Indian cricket team’s Test record has taken a massive hit.
With Gambhir at the helm, the Indian team suffered two whitewashes at home within the space of a year at the hands of New Zealand and South Africa. The ‘Men in Blue’ also conceded their BGT title to Australia for the first time in over a decade.
Is Team India going through a transition?
Compatible to Gautam Gambhir’s claims, the Indian Test team is indeed going through a transition phase. For starters, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma simultaneously announced their retirements from the format last year before India’s high-profile tour of England.
During the 2024-25 BGT series in India, legendary all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin also silently bowed out of the game.
With several senior stalwarts now gone, Gambhir will hope India’s emerging generation can deliver the required consistency, all while making sure that the team can qualify for the WTC 2025-27 final next year.
Also Read- Perform Or Perish! Marnus Labuschagne Issued Ultimatum By Australian Great
.jpg?type=mq "Alyssa Healy teases Starc")
