Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach has been record-breaking. But there’s an issue with that. The records Gambhir hasn’t been creating aren’t those to be proud of.
Gambhir’s record-breaking spree
In October 2024, a few months into his stint, Gambhir became the first Indian coach to get whitewashed at home in a series of at least 3 matches. New Zealand, which first toured India in 1955-56, hadn’t won a Test series in India. The Kiwis won 3-0, and that too without Kane Williamson.
Next year, Gambhir won the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2025 Asia Cup and drew the 5-match Test series in England. One felt maybe the New Zealand whitewash was a one-off. That turned out to be false. In November 2025, Gambhir became the first Indian coach to be whitewashed twice. This time, it was South Africa who beat India 2-0.
Many started to doubt Gambhir’s credentials as India’s Test coach. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has backed him. But no one doubted his white-ball prowess. Well, some might just start to question Gambhir’s ODI credentials. That’s because he has become the first Indian coach to lose an ODI series to New Zealand.
New Zealand ‘C’ team beats India
The Kiwis didn’t have the services of Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mark Chapman, and Nathan Smith. Yet, they have managed to beat India by 2-1. Granted, the Men in Blue rested Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel, but it’s nowhere near as many players as New Zealand has missed out on.
Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke made their debuts in the series. Mitchell Hay and Zak Foulkes had combined played 13 matches before playing against India. Yet they outclassed India in two of the three matches.
Questionable tactics & selections
Some of the tactics employed by India were bizarre. Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled just 2 overs in Rajkot, and Kuldeep Yadav delivered just 3 of the first 39 overs in Indore. Despite Ravindra Jadeja failing to get wickets and spin playing a big role in the middle overs, Ayush Badoni wasn’t tried.
Yes, one shouldn’t be too reactionary after just one series defeat, but an eerie pattern has emerged during Gambhir’s tenure. Selection and tactics have remained an issue in Test and ODI cricket.
Daryl Mitchell made Indian bowlers look clueless in all three matches. Why couldn’t Kuldeep come round the wicket to him? Can’t Jadeja be told to vary his pace more? Why wasn’t a proper spinner picked as Washington Sundar‘s replacement? All of these questions need to be answered.
New Zealand ODI tour of India results
YearMatchesResult20263New Zealand won 2-120233India won 3-020173India won 2-120165India won 3-220105India won 5-019995India won 3-219956India won 3-219885India won 4-0Gambhir takes India to another ‘low’, New Zealand ‘C team’ claims maiden ODI series in India after 3-0 in Tests Inside Sport India.
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