Gautam Gambhir's controversial decision to abandon Rahul Dravid's effective pitch management strategy during the New Zealand Test series has sparked widespread criticism. This series marked a significant low for India, as it endured a home Test series loss for the first time in 12 years, culminating in a historic clean sweep in the three-match series.
Among the various factors behind this disappointing outcome, Gambhir's choice to revert to rank-turning pitches for the Pune and Mumbai Tests has come under scrutiny. Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has specifically outlined his disapproval, contrasting Gambhir’s methods with those of Dravid, whom he considers to possess superior coaching insight. According to Basit, Dravid's approach involved curating pitches that would pose challenges primarily on the final days of the match, whereas Gambhir’s strategies allowed excessive turns from day one, catching teams off guard.
In addition to pitch tactics, Gambhir's aggressive style has also been questioned; Basit claims he lacks Dravid’s understanding of players' psychology. The former coach, noted for his psychological insight, would never encourage players like Virat Kohli to adopt inappropriate playing styles in Test formats.
As India gears up for a challenging tour of Australia featuring five Tests, Gambhir's coaching philosophy and the performances of seasoned players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be crucial for success in the series ahead.