Not 2027 World Cup or 2028 Olympics! Gautam Gambhir reveals his next target
Published - 11 Mar 2026, 11:48 AM
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that Test cricket remains very close to his heart following the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 victory. The former Indian opener also said that his next target is to help the national cricket team qualify for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2027 final.
Team India recently defeated New Zealand to defend their T20 World Cup title on home soil. The Men in Blue have clinched three ICC white-ball trophies over the past two years. However, they are still desperately seeking their very first ICC championship victory in the traditional five-day format of the game.
That's My Next Target - Gautam Gambhir Reveals Future Plans
During a recent appearance on the ANI podcast, Gautam Gambhir opened up about his future goals. The legendary opener acknowledged that the team is currently in a tough transitional phase. He stated that securing a spot in the World Test Championship final is his priority.
"Test cricket is very close to my heart. That one format is extremely, extremely close. And I hope that first we can qualify for the World Test Championship final. That's my next target," Gambhir said.
"And we still have, what, nine test matches to go? And the focus is going to be there because I feel that yes, we've gone through a transition in red ball cricket, and it is always difficult as compared to white ball cricket."
"And there are these young boys who we will keep backing in red ball cricket because test cricket is never easy. So the next target is that hopefully we can qualify for the World Test Championship," Gambhir added.
Most Of The Boys In That Dressing Room Are - Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir emphasized that most players inside the Indian dressing room respect Test cricket. The former batter stated that Test matches offer a platform to build lasting legacies.
"Yeah, 100%. And I think most of the boys in that dressing room are. They really want to do well in Test cricket. Because that is where legacies are made. That is where you feel content when you come back. That's the only format which gives you the opportunity to score a hundred, double hundred and a triple hundred."
"No other format gives you that opportunity. And when you go through those five days of hard work and when you get the results, there is no more satisfaction than getting a Test win under your belt, whether it is the T20 World Cup final, whether it is a 50-over game. Test cricket gives you ultimate happiness," Gambhir said.
#WATCH | "...Test cricket is very close to my heart. I hope that first we can qualify for the World Test Championship final. That's my next target and we still have nine test matches to go and the focus is going to be there...The boys really want to do well in Test cricket, that… pic.twitter.com/5rLT8I37VA
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2026
India Face Tough Road In WTC 2025-27 Under Gautam Gambhir
India are currently in a difficult position in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle under head coach Gautam Gambhir. The team have not yet found success in Tests during his tenure, and their chances of reaching the final depend on the results of the upcoming series.
India are sixth in the WTC 2025-27 points table with 48.15 PCT%, which leaves them with very little margin for error. To stay in contention for the final, the team must produce strong performances in the remaining matches of the cycle.
India still have nine Tests left in the WTC cycle, and they need to win at least seven of them to secure a place in the top two. They will play two Tests in Sri Lanka, two in New Zealand later this year, and a five-match home series against Australia in the first quarter of 2027.
Also read: Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings insulted as RCB’s IPL 2026 opening match revealed
About the Author
Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
