Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that head coach Gautam Gambhir faces significant pressure, with questions poised to intensify if the Indian team doesn’t perform adequately in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Chopra pointed out that Gambhir has been granted every request from the selectors, placing the onus squarely on him to deliver results.
While India did secure the 2025 Champions Trophy under Gambhir’s leadership, the team’s Test fortunes have taken a notable downturn since his tenure began last year. Out of 11 Tests, India has managed to win only three. This period has also seen a humiliating first-ever home whitewash and a 3-1 away series defeat to Australia. In the ongoing series against England, India started the first Test promisingly but ultimately lost by five wickets, revealing a lack of preparedness and conceding a 1-0 lead.
“There is a lot of pressure on Gautam Gambhir,” Chopra stated in a video posted on his YouTube channel. “The pressure is absolutely mounting. If you look at his performances in Test cricket and red-ball cricket, you will find that he has not won a lot of matches. He has won 2 matches against Bangladesh and one against Australia. However, we lost three against New Zealand, three against Australia and one against England. He has been losing and losing,” he added.
Chopra further elaborated on Gambhir’s mixed record, noting, “His performance in white-ball cricket has been good. The team has been playing well. But in Test cricket, I think the questions are going to be there. And I think there is a lot of pressure on this series. If this series doesn’t go well, God forbid, I hope it goes well. I really want Indian cricket to do well. But if the England series doesn’t go too well, then there will be a question mark — Where are they going and what are they doing?”
Aakash Chopra does make sense.
