Gautam Gambhir dismisses concerns over India's Test cricket performance

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has dismissed the idea that India are struggling in Test cricket, saying the team's recent results should be seen as part of a transition after the retirement of several senior players. India go into the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo with a 1-0 lead after their 165-run win in Galle. But the series has also kept the focus on a team that is trying to build a new Test side after the departure of some of its biggest names.

Since Gambhir became head coach, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired from Test cricket. India have also lost Test series against New Zealand and South Africa at home and endured a difficult tour of Australia. India have won five of their 10 Tests in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle and are ranked fifth currently behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. They were also whitewashed 2-0 by South Africa at home in 2025, after a 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand in the previous WTC cycle. Gambhir is the only India coach to oversee two home Test series whitewashes. Despite those results, Gambhir said India are not in decline. "Rankings do not matter. We are not struggling. Since the England tour, we have been playing consistent cricket since England," Gambhir said ahead of the Colombo Test. The head coach said his focus is on winning tournaments rather than rankings.

"My job is to win trophies. That's all I believe in and care for. That is the difference between me and everyone. I don't care about views or likes," he said. Since Gambhir became head coach, India have won the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup titles, but he has continued to face criticism over the team's Test performances. There have also been discussions about India moving to separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket. Looking ahead to the second Test, Gambhir said team selection will depend on choosing the bowling attack that gives India the best chance of taking 20 wickets. "We will try to field the best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets," he said.