Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that criticism and external pressure will not distract him from his primary objective as India’s head coach — winning trophies.
Speaking ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, Gambhir said he remains focused on his job despite the criticism directed at him following a series of disappointing results.
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“Criticism? My job is to win trophies. That’s all I believe in. That is the difference between me and everyone else. I don’t care about views or likes,” Gambhir said at the pre-match press conference.
Gambhir took over as India’s head coach in July 2024. Since then, India have endured a difficult run in Test cricket, including home series defeats against New Zealand and South Africa and a heavy loss to Australia in the away series.
The 2-2 draw in England has been one of the brighter results during his tenure.
However, Gambhir believes India’s recent performances should be viewed in the context of a transition period rather than through rankings or criticism.
“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.
Gambhir acknowledges transition period
Gambhir admitted that the team is currently going through a period of change and said there would inevitably be ups and downs.
“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 where we are getting it right,” he said.
India are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Despite India’s position in the table, Gambhir insisted that rankings do not determine how he assesses the team’s progress.
Injuries a concern for India
Gambhir also acknowledged that injuries have affected India’s plans, with several key players unavailable during the ongoing series.
“Even in this series, we have been missing so many players. We have had a bit of bad luck,” he said.
He added that the leadership group wants India’s best players to remain fit and available for as much cricket as possible.
According to Gambhir, having the strongest possible squad consistently available would provide greater continuity and help the team make better decisions.
Talks with Ajit Agarkar
Gambhir was also questioned about his discussions with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.
The India coach said their conversations are focused entirely on cricket and the team’s future.
“It’s only about how we want to move forward in cricket, what is important and what are the right decisions to make for the betterment of the game,” Gambhir said.
With India looking to improve their Test fortunes, Gambhir’s message was clear: outside criticism will not alter his approach. His priority, he stressed, remains preparing the team and delivering trophies for India
