Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach, which commenced with an impressive three-nil series win in the T20I leg, concluded with a winless run in the ODIs on Wednesday in Colombo. With the Champions Trophy set to be held in six months, the Indian team has already begun to see shades of Gambhir’s methodologies. This report delves into the major takeaways from Gambhir’s inaugural tour as India’s coach—his tactics, the outcomes of trials with several players who stepped in for the rested trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja, and other crucial elements.
### Batting Depth and Maximising Bowling Potential
Drawing from his experience in the coaching setups of both the Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders, Gambhir unsurprisingly adopted combinations aimed at enhancing batting depth in both T20Is and ODIs. This strategy saw Axar Patel batting as low as No 8 or No 9 at different intervals throughout the six-game tour. For Gambhir, executing this plan meant fully utilising the bowling potential of all-rounders and part-time bowlers in the squad.
India has struggled in recent years with bowlers who are limited in their batting abilities and batters who barely bowl. On this tour, players like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Suryakumar Yadav tried their hand at bowling with varying degrees of success. More notably, Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube were entrusted with greater bowling responsibilities.
### How Did Parag and Dube Fare with the Ball?
Riyan Parag demonstrated promise with the ball, scalping three wickets in the first T20I and another three crucial wickets in the final ODI. In his debut ODI, Parag’s deceptive bowling action made him the team’s most effective bowler, even managing to be economical in two wicketless T20Is on flat tracks where the Sri Lankan top order started strong.
In contrast, Shivam Dube did not pose much of a threat despite securing his maiden ODI wicket. Dube received little help from the pitch, but more worryingly, he failed to make a compelling case as a backup for Hardik Pandya, either with bat or ball. His fielding also left much to be desired, barring a terrific catch. While the spin department has ample all-round options, the search for a reliable pace all-rounder beyond Hardik remains elusive.
### More Opportunities on the Cards for Parag?
While Parag earned further chances with the national team owing to his performance with the ball, he could not replicate the same impact with his primary skill—batting. Parag was elevated to the Indian team based on one stellar IPL season, following five underwhelming seasons. His improved form was attributed to his promotion to a No 4 spot at the Rajasthan Royals, a role more familiar to him than a finisher.
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However, for Team India, Parag found himself back in the finisher’s role, where he has consistently struggled. Given the scarce opportunities in the national team, it remains to be seen whether Parag can excel in this position.
### The Left-Right Combination Obsession
Gambhir has carried his IPL tactics, emphasizing a right-left batting combination, to the Indian national team. This strategy was clearly evident in the T20Is and significantly influenced team selection and positioning. Although the same approach was adopted in the ODIs, it was primarily due to the significant role of spin with opponents having multiple spin options.
### Will This Obsession Continue Even When the Full-Strength Squad is Available?
For T20Is, this approach seems likely to continue. In ODIs, assuming that the top six include Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, the No 7 position—potentially occupied by Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel—would likely play a more substantial role in the middle overs. However, it is highly improbable that they would bat frequently in this position.
Except for Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, there are currently no strong contenders to challenge the right-handers for a place in the team. Given that India will likely play most of their limited-overs cricket on flat tracks, unlike the Colombo pitch, there might be sufficient reason to reconsider whether the right-left combination is essential enough to compromise other skills.
### Washington Sundar’s Role
Washington Sundar, the off-spinning all-rounder, boosted his chances following a Player of the Series performance in Zimbabwe. Though his contributions—50 runs and five wickets in three games—may not appear outstanding, they came at crucial moments. Sundar’s presence allows Gambhir to achieve two of his core objectives: batting depth and implementing the right-left combination. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether there’s a place for the off-spinner in the ODIs.
### Addressing the Spin Struggles
While many of Gambhir’s tested ideas look promising on paper, India’s struggle against spin in the middle overs poses a new challenge. In three games, except for consistent contributions from Rohit Sharma and occasional performances from others, the team has often collapsed against spin. Bowlers like Jeffrey Vandersay, Wanindu Hasaranga, Charith Asalanka, and Dunith Wellalage exploited India’s weakness. While these issues might be specific to the Sri Lankan conditions, they expose vulnerabilities that could have long-term implications.