The Indian cricket team stands at a crossroads, with Head Coach Gautam Gambhir’s position in the Test format coming under increasing pressure. While Gautam Gambhir has delivered success in white-ball tournaments, the team’s alarming slump in Test results, including an unprecedented 0-3 home series whitewash against New Zealand and a 1-3 Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss, necessitates a serious re-evaluation.
Under Gautam Gambhir’s tenure, India’s Test win percentage has dropped to around 38.88% (7 wins, 9 losses, 2 draws in 18 matches), a significant decline that threatens their standing in the World Test Championship cycle.
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The sheer volume of international cricket and the vastly different demands of Test, ODI, and T20I formats make the “one-coach-fits-all” model increasingly unsustainable.
A dedicated Red-Ball coach is required to focus on the technical nuances, patience, and long-term structure essential for success in Test cricket, allowing the white-ball coach to concentrate on high-intensity, short-burst strategies. This move, a structure adopted by nations like England and Pakistan, would provide greater clarity and less coach burnout.
The Three Leading Candidates for the Red-Ball Role:
1. Ravi Shastri:
Ravi Shastri’s candidature is built on results. During his previous tenure (2017-2021), India became a global Test powerhouse, achieving a remarkable 56.41% Test win rate (22 wins in 39 Tests) and securing historic, back-to-back series victories in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21).
Shastri’s motivational approach could be the immediate tonic required to restore the team’s winning swagger on the road and at home.
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2. VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman, the current Head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), offers a deep, calming influence. As a player, Laxman’s record is legendary: 8,781 runs in 134 Tests at an average of 45.97, including the iconic 281 against Australia.
His greatest strength is his profound technical knowledge and experience working with the next generation of Test cricketers at the NCA. His methodical, patient approach is seen as the ideal remedy for the team’s current technical vulnerabilities in the longest format.
3. Amol Muzumdar
Amol Muzumdar is the compelling, tactically astute dark horse. Though he never played for India at International level, but his domestic record speaks volumes: 11,167 first-class runs in 171 matches at a superb average of 48.13, with 30 centuries. This record proves his comprehensive understanding of the endurance and technique required for long-form cricket.
Combined with his recent coaching success, where he led the India Women’s team to their maiden World Cup title.