Gautam Gambhir handed “Definitely bad” verdict on his Test tenure: “Surprising and worrying”

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has shared his no-nonsense verdict on the Test tenure of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian team.

Aakash Chopra stated that Gautam Gambhir hasn't had a good time as the head coach in Test cricket and was part of a historic humiliation against New Zealand at home, which was "definitely bad."

Gautam Gambhir's India draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Since Gautam Gambhir became India's head coach, the team has performed tremendously in white-ball cricket, even winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 comprehensively.

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However, the same has not been seen in Test cricket, where Team India's performance has gone downhill. His Test tenure started off on a dominant note as India crushed Bangladesh 2-0 in a home series.

But after that, India suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand at home. It was the first Test series loss on home soil after 12 years for India and the first-ever 0-3 whitewash in the history of Test cricket at home.

Also, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia 1-3 before managing to draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England 2-2.

The win percentage is 33.33, which is not great - Aakash Chopra

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Gautam Gambhir's win percentage of 33.33 as the Test head coach is not good, but acknowledged that India are going through a painful transition in the longest format of the game. He said:

"Gautam Gambhir has been the coach in 15 Tests, of which India have won five, lost eight, and two have been drawn. The win percentage is 33.33, which is not great. However, it's also true that India are going through a transition in Test cricket, and transition is painful.

"India have struggled a little in Test cricket. What happened against New Zealand was slightly surprising and worrying. That was definitely bad. In that backdrop, you went to Australia, and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's Test careers ended there. They didn't retire there, but they didn't play Test matches after that."

A young gun team has been prepared - Aakash Chopra

Chopra added that the transition is not yet complete, but Gambhir has managed to build a solid young line-up. He explained:

"The transition is not yet fully completed. A young gun team has been prepared which went and drew the series in England. A new captain scored 750 runs at No. 4, KL Rahul got established as an opener, and things are looking up one more time. The start wasn't good. Not qualifying for the Test Championship was a serious blow, but things have started looking up now."

Aakash Chopra further highlighted Gambhir's admiration for all-rounders over specialists and said that he still needs to sort out the issues of No.3 and No.6 and find perfect candidates for those roles in the Test team. He elaborated:

"Nos. 4 and 5 and the openers have gotten fixed. There are still slight questions about No. 3 and No. 6, but knowing Gautam, as we move forward, although his philosophy is that, barring the openers, the batting order is flexible in T20s, I think he won't bring that philosophy into Test cricket. He will be very sure who he needs at No. 3 and No. 6."

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