Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach of the Indian cricket team in July 2024; however, the team has not dominated the format under his leadership, especially against the top Test nations.
India has shown glimpses of brilliance at times, but their inconsistency and frequent setbacks in the Test format have drawn massive criticism regarding whether the Indian head coach's vision aligns with the team's strengths.
Here, we take a look at how Team India's performance under Gautam Gambhir in Tests over recent times.
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India's match-by-match results in Tests under Gautam Gambhir
Here's the full list of matches played under Gautam Gambhir in Tests.
| Opposition | Venue | Result |
| Bangladesh | Chennai | India won by 280 runs |
| Bangladesh | Kanpur | India won by 7 wickets |
| New Zealand | Bengaluru | India lost by 8 wickets |
| New Zealand | Pune | India lost by 113 runs |
| New Zealand | Wankhede | India lost by 25 runs |
| Australia | Perth | India won by 295 runs |
| Australia | Adelaide | India lost by 10 wickets |
| Australia | Brisbane | Match drawn |
| Australia | Melbourne | India lost by 184 runs |
| Australia | Sydney | India lost by 6 wickets |
| England | Leeds | India lost by 5 wickets |
| England | Edgbaston | India won by 336 runs |
| England | Lord's | India lost by 22 runs |
| England | Old Trafford | Match drawn |
| England | The Oval | India won by 6 runs |
| West Indies | Ahmedabad | India won by an innings & 140 runs |
| West Indies | Delhi | India won by 7 wickets |
| South Africa | Kolkata | India lost by 30 runs |
| South Africa | Guwahati | India lost by 408 runs |
Out of the 19 matches played so far, India has won just seven, with two wins each against Bangladesh and the West Indies.
| Matches won | Matches lost | Drawn | Win percentage |
| 7 | 10 | 2 | 36.84% |
How has Gautam Gambhir performed as India's head coach in Tests?
Test series vs Bangladesh (2-0 win)
The first Test series under Gautam Gambhir was a success, as India clean-swept their subcontinent neighbors with many notable performances in the series.
Test series vs New Zealand (0-3 loss)
This was the first major test for Gambhir in the red-ball format, in which he faltered massively. India lost a Test series on home soil after 12 years, succumbing to a 0-3 defeat against New Zealand.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia (1-3 loss)
Gambhir and co. Began on a strong note with a win at Perth but couldn't hold on to the momentum as India lost the all-important series to Australia, which ultimately saw them bow out of contention for the finals of the WTC in June this year.
Tendukar-Anderson Trophy vs England (Drawn 2-2)
India leveled the series 2-2 after a stunning victory by 6 runs in the nail-biter at the Oval. Siraj picked up a fifer in the fourth innings to seal the win for the visitors.
India vs West Indies (2-0 win)
In the first Test, West Indies posted 162 & 146 in their first innings while India took a massive lead of 286 runs and declared 448/5. The visitors were bowled out for 146, setting up an innings and 140 runs victory for the home side.
India dominated the second Test by declaring at 518/5 before bowling out West Indies for 248 and enforcing the follow-on, after which the visitors put up a stronger fight to reach 390 in their second innings. Needing just 121 for victory, India eased to 124/3 to wrap up a seven-wicket win and complete a 2–0 series sweep.
India vs South Africa (2-0 loss)
India suffered a 2-0 whitewash against South Africa. This was the Proteas' first win on Indian soil in 25 years. India lost the first match at Eden Gardens after being bowled out for 93 runs in the fourth innings while chasing a meagre target of 124 runs.
In the second Test at Guwahati, they were bowled out for 140 while chasing a target of 549 runs, losing by 408 runs, India's biggest margin of defeat by runs.
The abysmal record under the new head coach in Tests has rung alarm bells across the country, raising questions about Gambhir's capability and his future with the national team setup, especially in the longest format. Gambhir and co. Will look to turn their fortunes with an improved outing in the second Test against South Africa at Guwahati.