India’s red-ball journey has taken a sharp dip under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, and former Indian opener Aakash Chopra isn’t ignoring it.
Chopra has voiced concern over Gambhir’s poor track record in Test cricket and hinted that pressure is building fast.
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The ex-India star didn’t hold back as he suggested that Gambhir may soon face tough questions if things don’t improve in the ongoing Test series against England.
Has Gambhir’s Test record been poor since taking charge?
Since stepping in as India’s head coach, Gambhir has seen his side win only three out of 11 Tests - two against Bangladesh and one against Australia. The losses, however, stand out sharply: a rare 0-3 whitewash at home, a 1-3 series defeat in Australia, and now another loss to start the England tour.
Chopra underlined that such repeated failures in red-ball cricket are alarming, especially when the team began the series opener in Leeds with promise but still folded in the final innings.
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“There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir," Chopra said. “The pressure is absolutely mounting. If you look at his performances in Test cricket and red-ball cricket, you will find that he has not won a lot of matches.
"He has won 2 matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia. However, we lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia and one against England. He has been losing and losing."
Is the team management giving Gambhir full support?
Aakash Chopra mentioned that the selectors have been giving Gambhir full freedom, whether it’s the players he wants, the combinations he prefers, or even certain off-field rules. With that kind of backing, Chopra believes it’s only fair to expect solid results in return.
"Because the selectors feel that whatever team management is asking for, it is being given. The type of player you want, the number of players you want, and the player you are pointing at are being given. So, if this is the case, then you also need to deliver the results. Period. There is no excuse," he said.
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He warned that if this five-match England series ends badly, the questions won’t just be about losses but about the direction the team is headed.
"If this series doesn’t go well, God forbid, I hope it goes well. I really want Indian cricket to do well. But if the England series doesn’t go too well, then there will be a question mark — Where are they going and what are they doing?" he added.