Gautam Gambhir's credentials as the head coach of the Indian cricket team appear less than impressive. Since succeeding Rahul Dravid following the remarkable triumph in the T20 World Cup, Gambhir has faced several setbacks, including a loss in an ODI series in Sri Lanka, a historic 0-3 defeat at home against New Zealand—the first whitewash India has experienced on home soil—and a 1-3 loss in Australia. His only successes have been in the T20I series against Sri Lanka and the T20I and Test series at home against Bangladesh. Under his leadership, India has lost six out of the last eight Test matches. With the Champions Trophy approaching, Gambhir, who has enjoyed considerable influence in selection discussions—more so than any previous Indian coach—finds himself under significant scrutiny.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who has played extensively alongside Gambhir, remarked that the former opener has not demonstrated strong tactical acumen. Kaif noted that while it may be premature for Gambhir to implement changes to Virat Kohli's batting technique, he should have been more discerning in selecting the appropriate playing XI.

"The most effective coach is one who possesses tactical superiority. He must understand how to assemble the right team based on the conditions. Determining the appropriate lineup against a team like Australia is a fundamental responsibility of a coach. Addressing technical issues with players like Virat Kohli may not be feasible at this stage, as he may not have had sufficient time. However, Gambhir has not been performing at his best tactically and has fallen short," Kaif stated.

‘Why didn't you play Jadeja in 1st Test?’

Kaif identified several shortcomings in Gambhir's selection of players, asserting that India should not have commenced the Border-Gavaskar Trophy without both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

"I observed his press conference and would like to understand where the team went wrong. The issues between Sam and Kohli are irrelevant to the main concern. The fact remains that you lost three Tests at home to New Zealand. You arrived in Australia with a squad of 19 yet chose not to include Jadeja in the first Test; what was the rationale behind that decision? An explanation is warranted. Ashwin, a player of legendary status, was also omitted from the first Test. Although we secured victory in that match thanks to Bumrah, these are tactical errors that must be addressed moving forward," Kaif remarked.

As one of India's premier fielders, Kaif also expressed dissatisfaction with the selection of Harshit Rana and Dhruv Jurel over Prasidh Krishna and Sarfaraz Khan.

"Why was Dhruv Jurel selected for the first Test only to be dropped later? Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 150 runs on a spinning pitch, did not participate in a single Test in Australia. What was it that led you to choose Harshit Rana over Prasidh Krishna, who is ideally suited as a hit-the-deck bowler for Australian conditions?"

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