India head coach Gautam Gambhir has pushed back against concerns over the team’s Test form, saying India are not struggling despite sitting fifth in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings.
Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, Gambhir said the WTC table is not something he is worried about right now. He believes India have played reasonably well over the past year and that the team is currently going through a period of change.
“My job is only to win trophies, not to garner views and likes. We’re not doing too badly in Test cricket since England, and this team is going through a transition phase. Consequently, there will be some shortcomings," he said.
India still finding their feet
India have won five of their 10 Tests in the current WTC cycle. Their run has also included a second consecutive home series whitewash, after South Africa beat them 2-0 in 2025.
Gambhir has now been involved in both of India's recent home clean sweeps. New Zealand had previously beaten India 3-0 in the last WTC cycle.
However, Gambhir believes the bigger picture needs to be considered. India have lost several experienced players who played key roles for the team over the last decade.
Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired, while Rohit Sharma also stepped away after being informed that he would not be retained. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are no longer part of the Test setup.
Gambhir points to a period of transition
According to Gambhir, the changes in personnel naturally mean that the current team will have some weaknesses while younger players settle into their roles.
He also made it clear that his focus is on winning major trophies rather than worrying about outside opinions or the team's position on the WTC table.
India's recent win in Sri Lanka has provided some relief. They dominated the first Test and gave Gambhir's side a positive start to the series.
Pressure remains on the India coach
Gambhir has faced criticism over India's Test results even though he has enjoyed success in white-ball cricket. Under his coaching, India won the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
There has also been growing discussion about whether India could introduce separate coaches for Test and limited-overs cricket.
For now, Gambhir remains focused on the current Test team. The biggest challenges will come later in the year when India travel to New Zealand for two Tests before hosting Australia in a five-match series.
Those two assignments could prove important in judging how well India have handled their transition into a new era.