India Test cricket remains under scrutiny, but Gautam Gambhir says India not struggling despite recent defeats and criticism of the team’s red-ball performances. The India head coach has rejected claims that the team is in decline and said rankings are not his main concern.
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Gambhir Dismisses Concerns Over India’s Test Form
India enter the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo with a 1-0 series lead. They won the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.
However, India’s Test results have remained a major talking point. The team is rebuilding after several senior players retired from Test cricket.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have all retired from the format since Gambhir became head coach. India have also suffered difficult results during this period.
They lost Test series at home against New Zealand and South Africa. India also had a challenging tour of Australia.Despite these results, Gambhir does not believe India are struggling.
“Rankings do not matter. We are not struggling,” Gambhir said ahead of the second Test in Colombo. He also pointed to India’s consistency since the England tour.
India Currently Fifth In WTC Rankings
India have won five of their 10 Tests in the current World Test Championship cycle. They are currently fifth in the standings, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
India’s recent home record has added to the pressure on Gambhir. The team was whitewashed 2-0 by South Africa at home in 2025.That followed a 3-0 home series defeat against New Zealand in the previous WTC cycle.
Gambhir is also the first India coach to oversee two home Test series whitewashes. These results have led to questions about India’s Test approach and coaching structure.
There has even been discussion about having separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball cricket.
Gambhir Focused On Winning Trophies
Gambhir said rankings are not his priority. His focus is on winning major tournaments and trophies.“My job is to win trophies,” he said. He added that he does not care about views or likes.
The coach has already enjoyed success with India’s limited-overs teams. Under his tenure, India won the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
However, the team’s Test performances have continued to attract criticism.
Gautam Gambhir says India not struggling because he believes the team’s recent Test journey should be viewed in the context of a transition.
Bowling Attack Key For Colombo Test
Gambhir also discussed India’s selection plans for the second Test against Sri Lanka.The coach said the team would choose the bowling attack that gives India the best chance of taking 20 wickets.
India will therefore focus on finding the right combination for the conditions in Colombo. Spin options could again play an important role.
The team will aim to build on its strong win in Galle and take control of the series.For Gambhir, the immediate target is clear. India need another strong performance and a series victory.
While the Test team remains under pressure, Gambhir has made his position clear. He does not believe rankings define India’s progress. Instead, he wants the team to focus on consistency, improvement and winning trophies.
