Gambhir defends approach, addresses criticism and praises youngsters ahead of Sri Lanka second Test
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir spoke on August 22, 2026, ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, addressing scrutiny of the national Test side and defending his methods. He said he preferred his own assessment over external commentary as India prepare for the Colombo match.
India won the first Test at Galle by 165 runs, where Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar made immediate impacts with bat and ball respectively. Since his appointment as head coach Gambhir has relied on unconventional tactics and has defended his decisions amid criticism. The team has, however, suffered defeats in the longest format on several occasions, including at home, and Gambhir has faced pressure while India worked to preserve their unbeaten home Test record. Modern cricket, he noted indirectly through the coverage of events, combines on-field performance with off-field scrutiny.
Asked about external criticism, Gambhir said his primary duty was tangible success: his responsibility "is to win trophies for India rather than worrying about public reactions on social media." He added that the coaching staff would remain focused on producing results and, when results come, that would address outside commentary.
Gambhir addressed his discussions with BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, saying the pair have been part of Indian management together throughout their careers and that Agarkar’s tenure is coming to an end. He described those conversations as centered only on the Indian team and its betterment and declined to provide further detail on their exchanges.
On recent Test form, Gambhir rejected the notion that India were "struggling," calling the period a transition in which occasional setbacks are to be expected. He said: "We are not struggling; rankings don’t matter. We are going through transition. There will be blips, but we have been playing consistent cricket since England."
Gambhir reiterated his preference for team-first recognition rather than singling out individuals, but acknowledged the performances of the young players at Galle. He said he was "very satisfied" with the outcomes produced by Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar, while stressing there remained work to do.
Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as India’s head coach is scheduled to end in December 2027 after the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2027. In Gautam Gambhir’s coaching tenure, India have lost 10 Test matches, and they now prepare to meet Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo.