New Delhi:
As India celebrates a remarkable 2-2 series draw against England in the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, one man who has emerged vindicated is head coach Gautam Gambhir. Coaching a young Indian Test side in the absence of senior stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Gambhir faced intense scrutiny ahead of the England tour with many questioning his credentials as a red-ball coach after previous defeats to New Zealand at home and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“There Was That Much Pressure On Him”, Mohammad Kaif on Gambhir’s Critics
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, acknowledged the immense pressure Gambhir was under.
“The most pressure on this tour was on him. As a coach, he was not as successful in Tests. I feel people were waiting if India lost this Test, the most criticism would be on him. People wait to make memes on him and talk bad about him. Maybe this would have been his last in Tests as coach if India had lost. There was that much pressure on him,” Kaif remarked.
He further praised Gambhir’s controversial yet impactful selection decisions, especially in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
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“We all said that Kuldeep Yadav must play in Bumrah’s absence, but Gambhir stuck to having batting depth. He wanted batting till number eight, and his decision proved right. In the two Tests we won, look at Ravindra Jadeja’s and Washington Sundar’s roles. Because of the depth in batting, we could score crucial runs and win. It was a good decision,” he added.
Gambhir’s Message: Build a Culture That Lasts
After India’s thrilling six-run win in the fifth Test at The Oval, Gambhir addressed the squad in the dressing room, highlighting the importance of consistent improvement and maintaining a strong team culture.
In a video shared by the BCCI, Gambhir said:
“The way this series has panned out 2-2 is an outstanding result. Congratulations to everyone.”
“We will keep getting better, keep working hard, and keep improving our areas. If we keep doing that, we can dominate Test cricket for a very long time. People will come and go, but the culture of the dressing room should always be one that people want to be a part of that is what we want to create.”
𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗧𝗦 | 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱
What happened in the #TeamIndia dressing room right after a memorable win at Kennington Oval 😊 🤔
Watch 🎥 🔽 #ENGvINDhttps://t.co/1qEZWSZmK2
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 5, 2025
India’s Grit Shines Through in England
Facing adversity and missing several first-choice players, India showcased immense grit, valiance, and a never-say-die attitude to level the series. After being on the brink of defeat on Day 3 of the final Test, the visitors clawed back into the match, pulling off a narrow six-run win and denying England a series victory on home soil.
This performance not only reaffirmed the depth and talent in Indian cricket but also provided Gautam Gambhir the validation he needed in the Test format turning what could have been his final outing as red ball coach into one of his most defining moments.
