'Rankings don't matter': Under fire Gambhir says India 'not struggling' in Tests
India go into the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo with a 1-0 lead after their 165-run win in Galle. But the series has also kept the focus on a team that is trying to build a new Test side after the departure of some of its biggest names.
India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has dismissed claims that the team is struggling in Test cricket, stating that the recent results should be viewed as part of a transition period following the retirement of several senior players. India currently leads the two-Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0 after a 165-run victory in Galle.
The series has highlighted the challenges faced by a team in transition as key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired from Test cricket. India has won five out of their 10 Tests in the current World Test Championship cycle and is currently ranked fifth, behind Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
Despite these results, Gambhir maintains that India is not declining and that rankings are not a significant concern. He emphasizes that his primary focus is on winning tournaments rather than rankings, highlighting India's recent successes in the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Gambhir also addressed criticism over the team's Test performances, suggesting that team selection for the upcoming second Test in Colombo will be based on selecting the best bowling attack capable of achieving 20 wickets.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
