Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach, which kicked off with a resounding three-nil series win in the T20I leg, came to a disappointing end with a winless run in the ODIs on Wednesday in Colombo. As the cricketing world gears up for the Champions Trophy set to take place in six months, it’s becoming evident that the Indian team has started to adopt Gambhir’s methods. Let’s delve into some of the key takeaways from Gambhir’s maiden tour as India’s coach—his strategies, the outcome of trials with new players who stepped in for the rested trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja, and more.
With his extensive coaching experience from his time at Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, it was no surprise that Gambhir aimed for combinations that offered greater batting depth in both T20Is and ODIs. This strategy resulted in unconventional batting lineups, with players like Axar Patel being slated to bat as low as No. 8 or No. 9 throughout the six-game tour. To execute such a plan successfully, Gambhir focused on maximizing the bowling potential of the all-rounders and part-timers in the squad. Notably, India’s recent struggles have included bowlers with limited batting ability and top batters who rarely bowl. On this tour, players like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav were given opportunities to bowl, with varying degrees of success. More significantly, Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube were entrusted with greater bowling responsibilities.
In terms of their bowling performances, Riyan Parag showed promise by taking three crucial wickets in the final ODI, despite the first T20I wickets seeming easier. With an action that cleverly disguises a leg-break from an off-break, Parag proved to be the team’s most effective bowler in his debut ODI. Even in the two T20Is where he went wicketless, he managed to maintain a decent economy rate on flat pitches where the Sri Lankan top-order had strong starts. On the other hand, Shivam Dube struggled to make an impact. Despite taking his maiden ODI wicket, Dube posed minimal threat and couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to make a compelling case for himself as a backup for Hardik Pandya, whether with the bat or the ball. His fielding, apart from one exceptional catch, also left much to be desired. Unlike the spin department, which is flush with all-round options, India’s search for a pace all-rounder remains limited to Hardik.
Given Parag’s decent performance with the ball, it’s likely he will receive more opportunities with the national team.
. However, his primary skill—batting—did not see the same level of impact. Parag was brought into the Indian team after just one stellar IPL season following five underwhelming ones. His resurgence was attributed to a promotion from finisher to No. 4 in Rajasthan Royals. Yet, with Team India, he finds himself back in the finisher’s role—a position where opportunities can be scarce and he has previously struggled.
Gambhir’s coaching approach also carried over an apparent obsession with maintaining a left-right combination throughout the innings, a strategy notably visible in the T20Is and during team selection. While this approach was also attempted in the ODIs, it largely owed to the significant role spin played and the opposition’s numerous spin options. Whether this obsession will continue when the full-strength squad is available remains to be seen. In T20Is, it seems certain; however, in ODIs, with seasoned players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya expected in the top six, the left-right combination may not always be feasible. The No. 7 spot, likely to be occupied by Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel, will have to adapt to more critical middle-order roles. Besides Rishabh Pant and potentially Yashasvi Jaiswal, there are no strong contenders to challenge the right-handers’ spots in the team. Considering India is likely to play on flat tracks more often, the necessity of a left-right combination could be a point of reevaluation.
Washington Sundar, the off-spinning all-rounder, solidified his case for inclusion with his Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe, contributing crucial runs and wickets at important moments. His presence fits well with Gambhir’s team mantras—batting depth and the right-left combination. Yet, is there a place for Sundar in the XI, given India’s usual approach to ODIs?
One of the significant struggles observed during this tour was India’s difficulty in countering spin during the middle overs, presenting a challenge for Gambhir and Co. While this may be specific to Sri Lankan conditions and less concerning for other international venues, it does highlight an area requiring attention. In three games, India’s lineup, barring a few key contributors, faltered against spinners like Jeffrey Vandersay’s leg-breaks, Wanindu Hasaranga’s variations, Charith Asalanka’s part-time off-spin, and Dunith Wellalage’s left-arm orthodox.
Overall, Gambhir’s first tour as head coach offered insights into his methods and highlighted areas of promise as well as challenges that need addressing ahead of the Champions Trophy.