- July 3, 2025
Upon being appointed as the head coach of India, Gautam Gambhir had the fans looking for fireworks, and he has delivered with fireworks in white ball cricket. But there is no value in T20s and ODIs. What about Test cricket? The predicament seems dire, with India already down 0-1 in this series that will be called the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy vs England. In a moment where he was directly attacking India, Monty Panesar, an ex-English spinner, said Gambhir was not far from being “on fire” should India have another bad game. But that was now travelling to Edgbaston for the 2nd Test. The pressure is already building.
Is Gambhir’s Bowling Blueprint Missing?
To be fair, India batted over 400 in the first innings at Leeds and still lost. That’s not a batting issue… that’s assault on the pitch. And Monty Panesar didn’t mince words: “If Gautam can create a strong batting unit, now, he must show he can create a great bowling unit, too.” And he does have a point.
In the conditions of England, where the Duke’s ball bounces slightly and the overhead clouds assist swing bowlers, getting the bowling combination right in the first instance is half the challenge. Worth noting, though, is that India looked flat. Uninspired. Perhaps, poorly managed. It’s not so difficult for Gambhir to select bowlers — it is to understand these pitches and to make tactical decisions which match the attitude and adaptability of England’s aggression. This is not IPL-style captaincy. It’s chess as opposed to T20 checkers.
Track Record: Cause for Concern or Context?
Let’s not kid ourselves — Gambhir is not coaching in a vacuum. He stepped into a Test side that had been spotty away from home long before he arrived. Since Gambhir’s arrival, India has lost seven of the last nine Test matches. That includes a horrendous 0-3 home whitewash to New Zealand (yes, at home), and a 1-3 thrashing at Australia where India relinquished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy without much fight.
So, is it completely Gambhir’s fault? Probably not. However, he is currently the responsible person, and the accountability of Test cricket can be unforgiving. The BCCI, as Panesar suggested, may not take the decision to sack him right away, but they will be watching him every Test, every decision he makes, every dropped catch, every bad bowling change; it all adds up.
Edgbaston: Gambhir’s Make-or-Break Moment?
The second Test at Edgbaston is more than a game — it’s a fork in the road. Another defeat would put India 0-2 down and effectively end the series. And the online backlash? Oh, it’s coming. Gambhir, in his usual no-nonsense style, brash manner, and protective bubble in England in July, needs to be more than gutsy. And remember the question Panesar posed: can Gambhir pick the right attack to take 20 wickets?
With conditions likely to favour seamers again and memories of the 2022 collapse still fresh in the mind, this match could define Gambhir’s Test tenure. If India recovers, Gambhir gets some more time. If they crumble again, the trolls – and the critics – will not hold back. And nor will the BCCI.
Test cricket offers no immediate result, but it can find out your weaknesses quickly. Gautam Gambhir, for everything he has done and his bravado, now finds himself in the unknown. Monty Panesar is probably a bit harsh, but he is saying what many are thinking quietly – is Gambhir the right man to lead the revival of India red-ball cricket?
With Edgbaston around the corner, everything is on the line. Will Gambhir rise to the occasion, or will the pressure get on top of him? What do you think — is the criticism justified, or is Gambhir only beginning the long game of Test coaching?
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