Image: Gautam Gambhir takes a courageous step following his triumph in the Champions Trophy / © News18
After India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory, head coach Gautam Gambhir has already shifted focus to the upcoming five-match Test series against England. Reports indicate that he will travel with the India A team to England, making him the first Indian head coach to do so. His goal is to closely assess the reserve players before the senior team’s tour.
Gambhir’s tenure as Test coach has been challenging. Under his leadership, India suffered their first-ever home whitewash against New Zealand and a 3-1 series defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, causing them to miss the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final. Determined to strengthen the squad, Gambhir has advocated for more India A tours, similar to those conducted when Rahul Dravid led the National Cricket Academy. He believes these tours are essential for building depth in the Test team.
With the IPL 2025 taking place before the England tour, Gambhir will have a short break, but his proactive approach highlights his commitment to long-term team development. His hands-on involvement with the India A squad reflects his strategy to prepare a strong bench for future Test challenges.