Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach, which began with a comprehensive three-nil series win in the T20I leg, ended with a winless run in the ODIs on Wednesday in Colombo. As the Indian team gears up for the Champions Trophy, set to be played in six months, they’ve already started to adopt some of Gambhir’s methods. This report examines the key takeaways from Gambhir’s first tour as India’s coach – encompassing his strategies, outcomes of player trials, and broader tactical insights.
**Batting Depth and Maximizing Bowling Potential**
Drawing from his coaching stints with the Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir stressed the importance of combinations that extend batting depth in both T20Is and ODIs. This strategic approach led to scenarios where players like Axar Patel batted as low as No 8 or No 9 throughout the six-game tour. To make this feasible, Gambhir had to maximize the bowling effectiveness of all-rounders and part-time bowlers in the squad.
Interestingly, a persistent issue for India has been the limited batting ability of their bowlers and the scant bowling contributions from their top batters. On this tour, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav were given opportunities to bowl, with mixed outcomes. More notably, Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube were entrusted with more significant bowling responsibilities.
**Parag and Dube’s Performance with the Ball**
Riyan Parag’s performance was particularly noteworthy. While his three wickets in the first T20I seemed straightforward, his three-wicket haul in the final ODI were crucial for the team. In his debut ODI, Parag’s deceptive bowling action helped him become the most effective bowler for India. Even in T20Is where he didn’t take wickets, he managed to maintain a reasonable economy on flat surfaces that favored the Sri Lankan top-order.
Conversely, Shivam Dube struggled to make an impact, despite securing his maiden ODI wicket. Pitch conditions provided little support for Dube, but even so, he failed to seize the opportunity to establish himself as a viable backup for Hardik Pandya, whether with the ball or the bat. Aside from a spectacular catch, his fielding also lacked finesse. Unlike the well-stocked spin department, India is still searching for reliable pace all-rounders beyond Hardik.
**Future Prospects for Riyan Parag**
Riyan Parag’s effective bowling may earn him further opportunities with the national team, but his batting did not meet expectations. Parag was included in the Indian team following a standout IPL season, in stark contrast to several mediocre performances in earlier seasons. This improvement was largely due to his promotion to a more familiar No 4 position at Rajasthan Royals. However, within Team India, he finds himself again in the finisher’s role.
. National team opportunities are rare and highly competitive, which means Parag must quickly adapt to excel in an unfamiliar role if he hopes to cement his place.
**The Left-Right Combination Obsession**
Gambhir’s strategies also reflect a strong preference for maintaining right-left combinations throughout the innings, a concept derived from his IPL experience. This was evident in the T20Is and served as a blueprint for team selection. Although the same approach was attempted in the ODIs, it was primarily driven by the significant role of spin and numerous opposition spin options.
**Will the Left-Right Strategy Persist for Full-Strength Squads?**
This approach is likely to continue in T20Is. In ODIs, however, if players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya are expected in the top six, the No 7 slot – likely to be filled by either Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel – will have a crucial role in the middle overs with the bat. This suggests these players may not stick strictly to their designated positions.
Apart from Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, there are currently no significant contenders to challenge the right-handers’ dominance in the team. Given that most of India’s future limited overs matches will likely be played on flatter tracks, the necessity of a right-left combination might be reconsidered in favor of other skills.
**What about Washington Sundar?**
Washington Sundar’s performances bolstered his prospects following a Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe. Though his stats – 50 runs and five wickets in three games – might not seem exceptional, they were achieved at critical moments. Sundar’s presence also allows Gambhir to check off two key team principles: enhanced batting depth and effective right-left combinations. However, India’s traditional ODI approach leaves the role of the off-spinning all-rounder in the XI somewhat uncertain.
**Challenges Against Spin**
Despite these promising strategies, India’s recent games revealed a glaring weakness against spin during the middle overs. In three ODI games, barring contributions from Rohit Sharma and a few others, the batting lineup crumbled against spin. The likes of Jeffrey Vandersay, Wanindu Hasaranga, Charith Asalanka, and Dunith Wellalage proved to be formidable challenges. While these struggles might be specific to Sri Lankan conditions, they raise important questions about the team’s broader adaptability.
In summary, Gambhir’s early tenure as India’s head coach reflects a blend of promising strategies and emerging challenges. His emphasis on batting depth, versatile bowling options, and right-left combinations offers a fresh tactical perspective, while the team’s vulnerabilities against spin highlight areas needing improvement. As India prepares for the Champions Trophy, these insights will be crucial in shaping their strategies and selections.