India head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that he has little interest in winning the popularity contest surrounding Indian cricket, insisting that his job is not to chase rankings, respond to criticism or worry about how the team’s performances are perceived.
For Gambhir, there is only one measure that ultimately matters: winning trophies.
“My job is to win trophies. That’s all I believe in. That is the difference between me and everyone. I don’t care about views or likes,” Gambhir said ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
India have already taken a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after a 165-run victory in Galle. The result has given Gambhir another opportunity to point towards signs of progress in a team going through a period of transition.
“Rankings do not matter. We are not struggling. Since the England tour, we have played reasonable Test cricket. I think we are going through a transition,” he said.
India’s Test Record Under Gambhir
- vs Bangladesh (Home): 2 wins, 0 draws, 0 defeats
- vs New Zealand (Home): 0 wins, 0 draws, 3 defeats
- vs Australia (Away): 1 win, 1 draw, 3 defeats
- vs England (Away): 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats
- vs West Indies (Home): 2 wins, 0 draws, 0 defeats
- vs South Africa (Home): 0 wins, 0 draws, 2 defeats
- vs Afghanistan (Home): 1 win, 0 draws, 0 defeats
- vs Sri Lanka (Away): 1 win, 0 draws, 0 defeats
Not Chasing the Noise
Gambhir’s approach has been to judge the team over a longer period rather than react to every setback or criticism.
The departures of three senior players have naturally created uncertainty, but they have also opened the door for a new generation. Shubman Gill has taken over as captain and is settling into the No. 4 position, while Devdutt Padikkal has shown encouraging signs at No. 3. Manav Suthar has perhaps made the biggest impression in Sri Lanka, claiming 10 wickets in Galle in only his second Test.
Gambhir believes these players need time to establish themselves rather than being judged on one or two performances.
“I am sure that people sitting in the press box and in the commentary box know that we are going through a transition. There will be ups and downs. But we know that wherever we are getting it right.”
That approach could also influence India’s selection in Colombo, particularly with Kuldeep Yadav and Saransh Jain competing for a place in the bowling attack.
“We will try to field the best bowling attack that can get us 20 wickets. Kuldeep is a good bowler and sometimes it’s up to the captain as well,” Gambhir said.
He added, “When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually get under-bowled. But it’s not about someone not delivering and getting under-bowled. It’s the captain or the management’s decision as to who will be most effective in that particular condition.”
The priority, therefore, remains performance rather than perception. India need to pick the combination they believe can win the Test, even if that decision creates debate outside the dressing room.
Gambhir Backs Three-Test Series
Gambhir also used the pre-match press conference to explain why he believes three-Test series are the ideal format, despite India’s current series against Sri Lanka consisting of only two matches.
With India leading 1-0, the Colombo Test will decide the series. Gambhir believes a three-match contest gives a team a better opportunity to recover after losing the opening Test.
“Three-Test series is ideal. Short turnaround is fine, we know how to manage our bodies and recover. We give optional practices and rest bowlers. I feel three-Test series is ideal,” he said.
He added, “Ideally I would want a three-match Test series. Sometimes, if you lose the first Test, the other team cannot make a comeback and the maximum they can try for is a draw.”
Gambhir was also satisfied with the nature of the Galle pitch and hopes Colombo provides another good Test surface.
“Galle was a good Test cricket pitch and we enjoyed playing there and hopefully the pitch remains the same here. It was not a perfect Test match but that’s how Test matches are played,” he said.
For Gambhir, the transition India are undergoing will inevitably bring some uneven results. But his focus remains firmly on building a team capable of winning when it matters, rather than making reactionary decisions based on outside noise.
The Colombo Test will offer another opportunity for India’s new core to show that the team is moving in the right direction—and for Gambhir to continue judging progress by the only benchmark he says truly matters: trophies.
