With India trailing in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the spotlight shifts to Gambhir’s ability to build a bowling attack that can deliver overseas.
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| Image Via IANS |
New Delhi, July 1- Monty Panesar has voiced serious concerns about Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team, specifically highlighting bowling as the team’s most pressing weakness. As India prepares to take on England in the second Test at Edgbaston starting July 2, the focus is squarely on how the Shubman Gill-led side will respond after their five-wicket loss in the first match. The defeat was particularly alarming because India became the first team in Test history to lose despite five batters scoring centuries.
In an exclusive conversation with IANS, the former England spinner said that while Gautam Gambhir may have shown promise in shaping India's batting lineup, the real test of his coaching ability will be his capacity to craft a bowling unit that can consistently take 20 wickets in overseas conditions. Panesar stated that India’s inability to close out the match from a dominant position has raised serious questions about Gambhir’s impact.
According to Panesar, the BCCI and fans alike are likely to judge Gambhir’s suitability for the head coach role Test by Test. He stressed that converting batting strength into victories won’t matter unless the bowling attack can finish the job. He said that India’s failure to win despite scoring over 400 runs was unacceptable and placed the blame on ineffective bowling strategies.
Gautam Gambhir took over the coaching role after Rahul Dravid stepped down, but results so far have been underwhelming. Since his appointment, India have played 11 Tests, winning only three. These include a 2-0 win over Bangladesh and a 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. These results have contributed to India falling out of the top two positions in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle (2023-25).
Panesar also offered insight into what he expects from the Edgbaston pitch. He believes the wicket will be dry and spin-friendly, making it crucial for India to consider playing an additional spinner. He recommended including either Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar in the playing XI to exploit the turning conditions. He also expressed concern over Prasidh Krishna’s short-length bowling and suggested he be rested for the second Test. With Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rotated, Panesar backed the inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh to add variety to the pace attack. He also mentioned Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur as potential options to complete the bowling unit.
Panesar reiterated that India's batting lineup isn’t the issue. Rather, their focus should be on selecting the right bowlers for each venue, especially in England where local conditions can dramatically influence performance. He highlighted that young captain Shubman Gill appears to understand the need for a wicket-taking bowling unit, quoting his comment about being willing to sacrifice batting depth in favour of a potent attack.
As the team heads into the crucial Edgbaston Test, the pressure is on Gambhir to prove his credentials not just as a former aggressive opener but as a well-rounded coach capable of making strategic decisions that bring results. The second Test could be a defining moment in his early tenure and will also be closely watched by selectors and fans alike as India looks to keep their series hopes alive in England.