Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach, which began with a dominant three-nil series win in the T20I leg, ended on a sour note with a winless run in the ODIs on Wednesday in Colombo. With the Champions Trophy set to take place in six months, the Indian team has already started to embrace Gambhir’s methods. Here’s a comprehensive look at some of the key takeaways from Gambhir’s maiden tour as India’s coach, focusing on his strategies, the outcomes of player trials, and more.
## Batting Depth and Maximising Bowling Potential
Drawing from his extensive coaching experience with franchise teams like Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir opted for squad combinations in both T20Is and ODIs that would provide greater batting depth. Throughout the six-game tour, players like Axar Patel were slated to bat as low as No. 8 or No. 9, showcasing a deep batting lineup. This required the maximisation of the bowling potential from the all-rounders and part-time bowlers within the squad.
Interestingly, one of the recurring issues India has faced in recent years is the limited batting ability among their bowlers, while their best batters seldom bowl. To address this, Gambhir involved players like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav in bowling, with varying degrees of success. Notably, Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube were also given greater responsibilities with the ball.
## Parag and Dube’s Performance with the Ball
Riyan Parag’s bowling performance was a game-changer. While his three wickets in the first T20I might have seemed easy, his three-wicket haul in the final ODI proved crucial. Parag, with his action that cleverly disguises a leg-break from an off-break, emerged as the most effective bowler for India on his ODI debut. Even in the two T20Is where he went wicketless, Parag maintained economy on flat surfaces where Sri Lanka’s top-order had strong starts.
Conversely, Shivam Dube did not pose much threat, despite claiming his maiden ODI wicket. Unlike Parag, Dube received little assistance from the pitch. However, the larger concern is his missed opportunity to establish himself as a viable backup for Hardik Pandya, neither with the bat nor the ball. His fielding, barring one exceptional catch, also left much to be desired. Unlike the spin department, which has ample all-round options, India is still searching for more choices beyond Hardik in the pace all-rounder category.
## Parag’s Future Prospects
Parag did enough with the ball to earn more chances with the national team, but his batting, his primary skill, didn’t make the same impact. Parag was fast-tracked into the Indian team off the back of a standout IPL season, following several underwhelming ones.
. A promotion to No.4 with Rajasthan Royals was credited for his form turnaround. However, with Team India, Parag finds himself back in the finisher’s role. National team opportunities are rare and precious; it remains to be seen if Parag can excel in a position where he has historically struggled.
## The Left-Right Combination Obsession
Gambhir has brought more than just batting depth from his IPL experiences; he has also emphasized maintaining a right-left combination throughout the innings. This strategy was particularly evident in the T20Is and factored into the positional and skill blueprint for team selection. While this approach was attempted in the ODIs as well, it was mainly due to the significant role spin played and the multitude of options available to the opposition.
## Continuation of the Strategy
This left-right combination strategy seems likely to continue, especially in T20Is. For ODIs, if the top six are expected to include Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, the No.7 role—potentially filled by Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel—would require greater contribution in the middle overs with the bat. Apart from Rishabh Pant and occasionally Yashasvi Jaiswal, there is currently no strong contender to challenge the right-handers for a spot in the team. However, with most limited-overs cricket being played on flat tracks, unlike Colombo, there might be a reconsideration of whether this right-left combination is necessary.
## Washington Sundar’s Role
Off-spinning all-rounder Washington Sundar boosted his chances with a Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe. Contributing crucial runs and wickets, his performance of 50 runs and five wickets in three games, though not headline-grabbing, came at critical moments. Sundar’s presence aligns well with Gambhir’s emphasis on batting depth and effective right-left combinations. However, it remains to be seen if there’s a consistent place for him in the XI given India’s typical ODI approach.
## Spin Struggles
Despite these strategies, India’s difficulty in countering spin during middle overs emerged as a new challenge. India’s lineup, except for Rohit Sharma and a few one-off contributors, collapsed against spin in all three games. The likes of Jeffrey Vandersay, Wanindu Hasaranga, Charith Asalanka, and Dunith Wellalage exposed this vulnerability. While these struggles could be specific to Sri Lankan conditions, they serve as a timely reminder of pending issues that may need addressing before the Champions Trophy.
In conclusion, despite a few setbacks, Gambhir’s debut as India’s head coach has showcased several new strategies and offered glimpses of promising player performances. With six months to refine and build upon these foundations before the Champions Trophy, the real test for Gambhir and his team lies ahead.