India vs England: High time Gautam Gambhir takes accountability, says Aakash Chopra

Gautam Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as India's all-format head coach following the team's historic T20 World Cup victory in 2024. The mentor, who won the IPL 2024 title with Kolkata Knight Riders that year, claimed his new and bigger responsibility with full vigour. Almost a year into his guidance, India has scripted an exceptionally successful run in white-ball cricket. The T20I setup, now led by Suryakumar Yadav, opted as the captain under the Agarkar-Gambhir regime, is going from one high to another. Moreover, the 50-over format earned the stamp of its success as Rohit Sharma and Co. lifted the ICC Champions Trophy in February earlier this year. However, the team is yet to emulate similar success, or even a part of it, in Test cricket.

How has Gautam Gambhir fared as India's head coach in Tests so far?

The tenure of Gautam Gambhir as India's head coach, while still short, has witnessed some bold calls. Suryakumar Yadav elapsed Hardik Pandya to claim India's T20I captaincy. Following Gambhir's takeover, several reports from the Indian camp have suggested that the head coach enjoys a free hand from the board for his selection calls. Gambhir picks his own players and his combination for every tour. In fact, fast-tracking Harshit Rana, a star performer for KKR in IPL 2024, into the national setup is credited to Gambhir. While the coach has scripted a shining run in white-ball cricket with his trusted methods, India has lost its rank as a Test cricket giant in the Gambhir era.

Under Gambhir, India has lost 7 out of 11 Test matches played so far, managing to draw one. Gambhir's red-ball coaching stint started successfully, with India claiming a 2-0 whitewash against Bangladesh at home. However, that was about it. What transpired next is a tumultuous tale. In the conclusive phase of the WTC Cycle, where India entered as the favorite to qualify for their third consecutive WTC Final, the team lost its path. Playing New Zealand at home, India lost the red-ball series 0-3. It marked the first instance of a team winning a Test series in India in 12 years. Moreover, the Kiwis became the first ones to claim a whitewash against India in their backyard.

Next, India went to Australia, with their WTC Final hopes relying solely on the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, the team managed only a single win in the series Down Under. Australia claimed three wins, as the Gabba Test ended in a draw. The 1-3 series not only pushed India out of the WTC Final qualification race, it also marked the Kangaroos claiming the BGT after a decade. Moreover, the BGT was filled with drama, with "dressing room leaks" suggesting a tussle between captain Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir.

Meanwhile, before the team kicked off the new WTC Cycle with the five-match India vs England series,  Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements. With Ashwin departing in the midst of BGT, the exits of Kohli and Rohit stamped the start of a new era of India in Test cricket. Shubman Gill claimed the captaincy and Rishabh Pant was announced as the team's vice-captain.

Aakash Chopra highlights the pressure on Gambhir in the India vs England series

Now, the start of this new era has not gone well. Shubman Gill started his captaincy era with a 5-wicket defeat in the opening India vs England Test at Headingley. While the top order looked settled, even without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the rest of the departments failed to uphold the quality. The bowling lineup disappointed, barring the spell of Jasprit Bumrah, who scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings. The lower-middle order failed to back the momentum set by the likes of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and KL Rahul. Meanwhile, the most triggering performance was observed on the field, where Indian fielders dropped as many as eight catches.

Despite India mounting five centuries in a single match, including the record-breaking twin tons by Rishabh Pant, the visitors lost the opener. Now, the team is gearing up for the second India vs England Test, scheduled in Birmingham, where India is yet to win a Test match. Before the combination is revealed for the Edgbaston Test, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has taken aim at Gautam Gambhir. Chopra, in his analysis, talked about Gambhir making the selection calls and enjoying a free hand in the setup.

“There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. If this series doesn't go well, God forbid, I hope it goes well. I really want Indian cricket to do well. But if the England series doesn't go too well, then there will be a question mark,” said Chopra.

“Where are they going and what are they doing? Because the selectors feel that whatever team management is asking for, it is being given. The type of player you want, the number of players you want, and the player you are pointing at are being given. So, if this is the case, then you also need to deliver the results. Period. There is no excuse,” he added.

Chopra saved Shubman Gill from facing the brunt. The former batsman explained that Gill is young and new in the leadership role. However, Gambhir sure needs to answer. In a press conference following the defeat in the opening Test, Gambhir talked on similar lines, placing Gill as an able leader but just new to the role.

“This is the principle of Indian cricket, and it is true that if it is good, then everyone is proud of it. But if it is bad, then criticism is absolutely obvious. I will still be more patient with Shubman Gill because he has just become the captain. It will take him some time to understand,” Chopra said.