Following India’s loss to England in the opening Test, head coach Gautam Gambhir stood firm on not singling out any player or unit for criticism. Addressing the media in a post-match press conference on Tuesday, Gambhir displayed composure and clarity, defending the team’s collective effort and urging patience.
India’s lower-order batting collapse was a major concern, with players from No. 8 to 11 scoring just 9 runs across both innings. However, Gambhir was quick to shield them from criticism. “First of all, I’ll tell you it’s not that they were not applying themselves. Sometimes people fail, and that’s okay,” he said, noting the team’s shared disappointment after missing a chance to post a big first-innings total.
Gambhir highlighted the importance of viewing the loss as a team setback rather than picking faults in individual performances. “We lose together, we win together. It’s not that they’re not working hard in the nets,” he added, pointing out that even top-order batters can underperform.
On Shardul Thakur’s role and performance
When asked about the limited impact of Shardul Thakur, who managed just two wickets, Gambhir reiterated that Thakur was brought in as a bowling all-rounder and not a frontline bowler. He explained that the decision to use Thakur sparingly was influenced by the effectiveness of Ravindra Jadeja, who provided much-needed control with the ball.
“Shardul got us two important wickets, which got us back in the game,” Gambhir noted. He emphasized the need for consistency across the team and expressed confidence in the players’ ability to grow from the experience.
Backing for Shubman Gill’s captaincy debut
With Shubman Gill leading the side for the first time in Tests, questions were raised about his leadership. Gambhir, however, expressed strong support for the young captain, calling his debut promising.
“Look, first Test match, obviously, there are nerves,” Gambhir acknowledged, praising Gill’s century in the first innings. “He has everything that it takes for him to be a successful captain. We just need to give him time.”
Gambhir likened Gill’s leadership debut to being “pushed into the deep sea” but voiced faith that the youngster would emerge stronger and more capable with time.