Team India’s red-ball woes continued as the side suffered a heartbreaking defeat against England in the first Test at Headingley. Following the loss, head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill faced severe criticism over the team’s selection, especially in the bowling department. Meanwhile, former cricketer Aakash Chopra has also voiced his concerns over India’s dismal run in Test cricket.

Aakash Chopra slams Gautam Gambhir over India’s poor run

Talking on his YouTube channel Aakash said that there is growing pressure on Gambhir as Team India’s head coach. His record in Test and red-ball cricket has come under scrutiny, with only a few wins to his name — two against Bangladesh and one against Australia. However, the team has suffered three losses against New Zealand, three against Australia, and one against England under his leadership, raising serious concerns about his effectiveness in the role.

“There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. The pressure is absolutely mounting. If you look at his performances as Coach in Test cricket and red-ball cricket, you will find that he has not won a lot of matches. He has won 2 matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia. However, we lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia, and one against England. He has been losing and losing,” Aakash stated.

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India’s Test struggles continue after senior trio bows out

India, the runners-up of the 2021 and 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) Finals, have been going through a poor run in Test cricket. They have won only one match in their last nine games. The trouble started in 2024 when India were whitewashed by New Zealand for the first time ever in a three-match series. Things got worse during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25, where India faced a heavy series defeat. That loss marked a big turning point, as senior players Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli announced their retirement afterward.

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