India have suffered two Test whitewashes at home since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach in July last year. AP
Gautam Gambhir should become a head coach in Ranji Trophy to learn how to build a team in First Class cricket, reckons former England spinner Monty Panesar. Gambhir has been under fire after India’s 0-2 loss to South Africa at home, which was the team’s second whitewash under the left-hander’s coaching tenure.
Fans have been demanding Gambhir’s ouster from red ball cricket and there have been reports of BCCI being interested in having VVS Laxman as specialist Test cricket coach. However, BCCI has clearly denied such reports and posed its trust in Gambhir.
Panesar, a former left-arm spinner for England, said that Gambhir needs to get red ball coaching experience to become a better Test coach.
“Gautam Gambhir is a good coach in white-ball cricket because he has been successful. He could become the Ranji Trophy coach, and he should talk to the coaches who have coached in the Ranji Trophy about how you build a team in red ball cricket,” he told ANI.
The 43-year-old Englishman who played a big role in England’s famous Test series win in India in 2012-13 said that the current Indian team is weak in the traditional format.
“Right now, the Indian team is weak in Test cricket. This is the reality. It’s not that strong. It will take time. When you retire three big players, it becomes difficult to keep the remaining players ready,” the former England spinner said.
Panesar took 17 wickets in five innings, including an 11-wicket haul in Mumbai Test, to form an unplayable pair with Graeme Swann on England’s tour to India in 2012-13. England won the four-match Test series 2-1 in what was their first series victory on Indian soil in 28 years. It was also India’s last series defeat before they lost to New Zealand in 2024 under Gambhir’s coaching.
Panesar played 50 Tests for England and took 167 wickets. He also has over 700 First-Class wickets as well 24 wickets in ODIs.
