Team India’s tour of England got off to a shaky start with a dramatic final-day defeat in the first Test at Headingley. Despite dominating large portions of the match and racking up over 800 runs – including five individual centuries – India ended up on the wrong side of the result, losing by five wickets in the final session.
The loss marked India’s seventh defeat in their last nine Tests, turning the heat up on head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is now facing serious scrutiny. Former India opener and popular cricket analyst Aakash Chopra didn’t hold back when speaking about the mounting pressure on Gambhir.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir. It’s building up fast,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel. “If you look at his Test record so far, the wins have been limited – two against Bangladesh and one versus Australia. But the losses keep coming three against New Zealand, three more against Australia, and now one in England.”
Chopra went on to suggest that Gambhir’s future in the role could hinge on the outcome of this series. “If this England series doesn’t go well, questions will absolutely be asked,” he added. “Because the selectors are backing the team management. The players they’ve asked for, they’ve got. So now it’s simple you’ve got to deliver. No excuses.”
Even as the pressure builds, Gambhir has stood by his team – especially the inexperienced bowling unit despite the tough loss. With spearhead Jasprit Bumrah expected to play only three of the five Tests to manage his workload after a recent back injury, India will be without their strike bowler for the second Test at Edgbaston.
Still, Gambhir remains optimistic. “We have full faith in this bowling attack. They’re raw, yes, but they’ll come good for us,” he said following the Headingley loss.
With the series now firmly in the balance and India looking to bounce back at Birmingham, all eyes will be on both the players and the coaching staff. Another slip-up, and the questions surrounding leadership and direction in India’s red-ball setup will only grow louder.
