Ever since Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s men’s team coach in 2024, results in red-ball and white-ball cricket have been chalk and cheese. India remain a dominant force in the latter, but have had mixed results in the former, including two home series defeats.

The former India opener, however, felt the side were not struggling in Test cricket, and the losses were merely a consequence of the team’s transitional phase.

“Not at all. We are not struggling that much. Rankings do not matter. I think we are going through a transition, and I am sure that people sitting in the press box and in the commentary box know that we are going through a transition. And despite that, yes, there will be blips; there will be ups and downs,” Gambhir told reporters on Saturday.

Story continues below this ad

“But I thought that since the last one year, since the England tour, I think we have played reasonably consistent cricket in Test cricket as well. So I think you guys can go by the ranking, but we don’t. Because we know that wherever we are heading, we are heading in the right direction,” he added.

A constant around Gambhir’s tenure has been outside noise over performances and players. The head coach dismissed such talk and said his role was only to help the team win.

“My job is to win trophies, not views and likes. That’s all I believe in, and that is the difference between me and everyone. I wish I could talk. I could tell you about the conversations only that we have, me and the chairman selectors have. It’s only about how we want to move forward with Indian cricket and what is important and what the right decisions are to make for the betterment of Indian cricket,” he added.

India were without some regular players in the first Test at Galle, but Devdutt Padikkal stepped up with a standout performance. Gambhir expressed satisfaction, but cautioned against judging players too quickly.

Story continues below this ad

“Extremely satisfied. Because when you get those younger players coming in and delivering straight away, but again, there is still a lot of work to be done. You can’t judge players by only one or two performances. Yes, there is a lot of talent. That’s why they are playing for India, and they have delivered straight away, which again is very good for Indian cricket as well.

“Because we want to see that depth not only in white-ball cricket, but in red-ball cricket as well. We have seen that they are getting an opportunity at number three and making the most of it. But again, as I said, judging players by only one or two Test matches is not going to be fair. Because we want to give them a longer rope. At the same time, we will keep backing them.”

The last few days have also seen growing talk about Kuldeep Yadav and his role in the team. Gambhir backed the wristspinner, but emphasised that India had to pick an attack capable of taking 20 wickets.

“We will try and pick the best bowling attack which can get us 20 wickets. You can score 1000 runs in Test cricket. There is no guarantee that you are going to win a Test match. But if you get 20 wickets, you have all the probability and possibility of winning the Test match.”

Story continues below this ad

“For me, I think when winning Test matches, you try and pick the best attack that can get you 20 wickets, whether you have got three left-arm spinners in it or whether you have got an off-fielder or whether you have got three seamers. So we have all our options open.

“Ultimately, we know how good a bowler Kuldeep is. More importantly, sometimes it is up to the captain as well. It is not about guys under-bowling. It is about getting the result. For me, I think that is more important. When you play five proper bowlers, someone will eventually go under-bowled.

“But it is not about someone not delivering and going under-bowled. It is about who he feels, the captain feels, or the management feels, can be most threatening in that particular condition.

“So for me, I think the conversation that I have had with Kuldeep is just to try and bowl your good spell rather than looking desperate to take wickets. Because sometimes, as a wrist spinner, when you are looking and you are desperate to take wickets, I think your control can go away as well.

Story continues below this ad

“But for a very long period of time, we rate Kuldeep very highly, and we know how successful and how threatening he can be in every condition given to him,” he said.