Former England spinner Monty Panesar has thrown his weight behind Gautam Gambhir, urging his naysayers to show patience and give the new head coach time to settle into the role. In a conversation with InsideSport, Panesar said Gambhir deserves a fair run of 12 to 18 months to build and guide a fresh Shubman Gill-led Indian Test side after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Gambhir's tenure as India's Test coach has been abysmal. While India have done well under him in white-ball cricket, the same cannot be said for the Test format. Since Gambhir has taken over, India have played 11 Test matches. They have won just three, lost seven, and drawn one. They lost against New Zealand 0-3 at home and then were hammered in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. They recently lost the Test match versus England at Headingley.
However, it is important to note that the team is now in a transition phase. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma no longer available, the onus is now on younger names to carry the legacy forward. Gautam Gambhir’s job, at least in the short term, appears to be more about rebuilding than dominating.
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Also read: Stat Check: Inside Head Coach Gautam Gambhir’s Troubling Test Run After India’s Headingley DefeatÂ
Monty Panesar Backs Gautam Gambhir Amid Tough Tenure as India Test CoachÂ
Gambhir’s tenure as India’s Test coach has been anything but smooth. Panesar, who played 50 Test matches for England, believes it is far too early to hit the panic button. Speaking exclusively to InsideSport, Panesar insisted that Gambhir deserves a longer rope, especially considering the transitional phase the team is going through.
"He’s in a unique position. He’s actually starting with a new team. You are building a new side in conditions that are not favouring this Indian team. They are going to England on pitches that won’t be spinning but on swing and seam conditions. It’s more likely that India will lose the series because of the conditions and a young team. But you never know; they may win or there may be close matches," Panesar said as quoted to InsideSport.
He went on to suggest that Gambhir’s coaching tenure should not be judged on the basis of a few results as his job now is to develop and nurture the side for the next 12-18 months.
"I believe Gautam Gambhir should be given at least 12-18 months to develop and nurture this young Test team. And then review how he’s done as a coach. If he had Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing on this tour, then it is very much about India winning the Test series because they got experience in the team. But they don’t have the experience at the moment," he added.
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Jasprit Bumrah Likely to Be Rested at Edgbaston, Adding to India’s Troubles
As if the challenge was not steep enough already after the loss at Headingley, reports have emerged that Jasprit Bumrah could be rested for the second Test of the England series, starting July 2. With the management keen to manage his workload carefully, there is a strong possibility he may sit out in the Edgbaston Test.
Bumrah’s absence would be a massive blow. The speedster has been India’s most reliable bowler overseas in recent years, capable of producing spells that break open games even when conditions are not helpful. Without him, India’s pace attack looks considerably less threatening. Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep could replace him.
