Insisting that India are still transitioning in Tests, Gautam Gambhir remains optimistic about WTC chances

India head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI Photo) TimesofIndia.com in Mullanpur: For most of the year, every conversation around the Indian Test team started with the same word: transition. At head coach Gautam Gambhir’s pre-match press conference ahead of the Afghanistan Test, transitional remained a buzzword.The departures of legends and injuries to key bowlers have made it easy to attach the tag to a side still searching for stability in the format. As India prepare for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, head coach Gambhir says the Shubman Gill-led side is still in transition, with the group having played just nine Tests combined.“We played nine Tests, had a great run in England and then beat the West Indies. So when people talk about transition, that’s where it really started. If after nine Tests you still feel it’s a long rope, I don’t necessarily agree,” Gambhir said on Thursday.“We all saw how well this young team did in England and then against the West Indies. Yes, losing the two Test series in South Africa hurt, but that’s part of any transition. Consistency can be an issue because these are young players. Most of them have played less than 30 Test matches, which is still not a lot of experience at this level.”“I’m not making excuses. I don’t see the absence of a full squad as the reason for where we are. We have enough talent in this group to turn things around and I’m very hopeful that we can give ourselves the best possible chance of winning the World Test Championship,” he added.Ever since Gambhir took charge, he has repeatedly talked about creating a culture where players are supported over a longer period of time rather than judged after a few matches. His defense of Sudharsan exemplified this philosophy. However, Sudharsan’s Test career had a stop-start feel. He scored 87 against the West Indies in New Delhi but was dropped for the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata a month later before returning for the Guwahati Test where his anti-spin technique came under scrutiny.The left-hander’s modest start to Test cricket has led to questions over whether Devdutt Padikkal, who has scored plenty of runs on the domestic circuit and made his debut ahead of Sudharsan, deserves an opportunity. Gambhir’s answer was clear.“Sai doesn’t have a fair chance,” he said, arguing that judging players after four or five Tests makes it impossible to build a successful side.This approach appears to be key to India’s transformation strategy. Rather than an endless search for immediate results, the management wants to identify players who are capable of contributing for the remainder of the World Test Championship cycle.India is currently sixth in the WTC rankings. Apart from this one-off Test against Afghanistan, which is outside the championship cycle, they have nine Tests left – two each against Sri Lanka and New Zealand this year, before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is contested against Australia in 2027.Ahead of that sensational series next year, India will need strong results in Sri Lanka and New Zealand to stay in contention for the final berth in the WTC. History suggests neither task will be straightforward, but the coach remains optimistic about reaching the WTC final.“We’re always optimistic until we have the chance to qualify for the WTC finals because we know the quality we have and the kind of talent we have. I don’t think there’s any reason not to believe we can’t win the Test World Cup, and not just me but everyone in the dressing room believes that. Yes, we might have the odd bad run here and there, but we know how hard we dress.” peace,” he said.This emphasis on treating each Test seriously is also reflected in how India plans for the months ahead. One of the lessons from recent overseas assignments, according to Gambhir, is that the team needs to prepare better for red-ball cricket. With a tight schedule that includes a T20I and ODI series before the Tests in New Zealand, the management is already considering separating some Test players from ODI commitments to give them more time to prepare.For Gambhir, the ideal preparation is important, but the mindset is more important. After almost two-and-a-half months of the IPL, the eight members of the team had little time to prepare for the match starting on June 6.“Mental skills are more important in Test matches,” Gambhir said, adding: “If you are mentally prepared to handle it, I think that will keep us in good shape.”The talent, Gambhir claims, is already there. What the team is now trying to build is the habits, patience and ability to absorb pressure in a crunch situation to succeed in Test cricket.“Test cricket is not just about skill or technical ability. To be a successful Test cricketer you need a lot of other qualities as well. How you absorb pressure, how well you read the game and the sacrifices you are willing to make for the team are just as important.”“That’s something we want to keep emphasizing to the younger players. Success in Test cricket is not just about talent. It’s about the sacrifices you make for the team and it’s those sacrifices that can make this Test side a very successful side,” Gambhir said.The one-off test will offer insight into how players adapt to the challenge and embrace the transition.

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