Gautam Gambhir will now be responsible for whatever is happening in the Indian team – Dinesh Karthik

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has expressed strong support for head coach Gautam Gambhir, urging that he be given more time to develop as a coach, especially in the challenging arena of red-ball cricket. As the batting coach and mentor for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Karthik brings valuable insight into Gambhir’s coaching journey. He believes that India’s recent drawn Test series against England has granted Gambhir a crucial opportunity to refine his coaching skills in the longest format of the game, where experience and strategy are paramount.

Karthik acknowledges that Gambhir is still relatively new to coaching in Test cricket and is learning on the job. Unlike his proven success in limited-overs formats, Gambhir’s experience with five-day matches and domestic long-format cricket is limited. Despite this, Karthik sees Gambhir’s dedication to building the future of Indian cricket as commendable. “As of now, I think he is on his own path now. Now he will be responsible for whatever is happening in the Indian team. If he does well, he will get the credit. If he doesn’t do well, I think he should raise his hand and say, ‘No, I think we made a mistake here.’ As of now, I think he should be proud of the hard work of the players and the backroom staff over the last month and a half,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

Gambhir’s willingness to back young talent has been a highlight of his tenure. Karthik pointed out that although Gambhir had an ordinary home series against New Zealand and faced struggles against Australia, the current performance against England, culminating in a drawn series, is a positive sign. “If India had lost 1-3 in England, I would have said it completely differently. But I think he has taken charge of this team now. He has handpicked this team. He has backed many young talents,” said Karthik. This faith in youth not only promises a bright future but also shows Gambhir’s vision to build a competitive and dynamic team.

One of the key pieces of advice Karthik offered to Gambhir concerns the focus on bowling, especially in Test cricket where taking 20 wickets is essential for winning matches. “One thing I would request him to do is to be as serious about taking 20 wickets as he is about batting depth. That’s very important in Test matches,” Karthik emphasized. He believes that a balanced approach, giving equal importance to bowling attack and batting resilience, is crucial for success in the longer format.

While Gambhir’s strengths lie in limited-overs cricket, where he has demonstrated significant success, the transition to Test match coaching is a learning curve. “I think he is a great limited-overs coach—the results are there for everyone to see. But in Test cricket, he is learning on the job. He is a young coach. He hasn’t coached many five-day matches or domestic cricket to get that much experience,” Karthik noted. This honest evaluation highlights the gap Gambhir is working hard to bridge.

Karthik also praised the passion and commitment visible among the Indian players, which he attributes in part to Gambhir’s influence. “We don’t know what kind of message he gives in the dressing room, but it is clear that these players are full of passion – it was evident at the Oval. You can almost say that he has picked a team that won’t lose,” Karthik said, acknowledging the strong team spirit fostered under Gambhir’s leadership.

In conclusion, Dinesh Karthik’s perspective offers a balanced view: Gambhir is still evolving as a Test coach but deserves more time and support to mature in his role. His focus on nurturing young talent and instilling passion in the team lays a promising foundation. If Gambhir can also sharpen his tactical approach to bowling and adapt fully to the demands of Test cricket, India could be on the cusp of a successful era under his guidance.