India’s recent tour of Australia has wrapped up, but the debates and reflections are far from over. While the Men in Blue managed to clinch the T20I series 2-1, the sting of losing the three-match ODI series to the hosts has left a mark on both the squad and its passionate followers. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, never one to mince words, has addressed the series outcome with candor, sending pointed messages to senior stars and laying out his vision for the team’s future.
The tour, which concluded just days ago, offered a rollercoaster of emotions for Indian cricket fans. The T20I series saw India’s explosive batting lineup shine, but the ODI leg told a different story. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of India’s most celebrated cricketers, returned to the ODI format with high expectations. Yet, the start was anything but ideal—Kohli fell for a duck and Sharma managed just 8 runs in the opening match at Perth, where Australia cruised to victory by seven wickets via the DLS method.
The struggles continued in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval. Rohit bounced back with a spirited half-century, but Kohli again failed to trouble the scorers, dismissed for another duck. India narrowly lost that contest by two wickets, handing Australia an unassailable lead in the series. With pride on the line, the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground saw both senior batsmen find their groove. Rohit Sharma smashed his 50th international century, an unbeaten 121, while Kohli contributed a solid 74 not out. Their partnership of 168 runs powered India to a commanding nine-wicket win, chasing down 237 with a whopping 69 balls to spare.
Despite this emphatic finish, Gautam Gambhir was quick to temper the celebrations. In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Gambhir made his stance clear: “Look, I don't think so honestly (commendable performance). I think I've always been a believer that it's not about the individual performances. Yes, I can be very happy with the individual performances. Yes, and I will always remain happy with individual performance, but ultimately, it's a loss to the ODI Series.” According to Gambhir, the bottom line is simple—India lost the ODI series, and that’s not something to celebrate.
Gambhir’s message wasn’t just for the players, but also for fans and pundits who often fixate on individual milestones. “That's the bottom line, and I can never celebrate a series loss as a coach. As a player, I can appreciate individuals, but as a coach, I think it is my moral responsibility that we as a nation and we as individuals should never, never celebrate a series loss. Ultimately, we are representing the country. Yes, the T20 series was different. We won the series,” he emphasized.
This philosophy extends beyond the recent series. Gambhir is determined to foster a culture where team results trump personal achievements, and where learning from setbacks is as important as savoring victories. He’s particularly keen on preparing the squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, using every series as a stepping stone. “There were plenty of positives but also important lessons to take forward,” Gambhir noted, highlighting the need to focus on the bigger picture.
One area where Gambhir’s influence is already visible is in India’s approach to T20 cricket. During the Australian tour, the Indian batting order was notably fluid, with only the two openers retaining fixed positions. Gambhir explained his reasoning: “That has been the ideology from Day 1 when I took over as head coach. Batting orders are very overrated. The two openers are permanent. The rest, I think, everything shuffles because it’s not the amount of runs that matter in T20 cricket, it’s the impact that matters.”
He elaborated further, “People sometimes do not differentiate between the runs and the impact. Runs and impact are different. In T20 cricket, it’s all about impact. In 120 balls, every ball is an event, there needs to be maximum impact on each.” This strategy isn’t just theoretical; it’s rooted in Gambhir’s previous success as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, where his bold promotion of Sunil Narine up the order contributed to two IPL titles.
Gambhir’s tactical acumen isn’t limited to batting. He’s brought a similarly aggressive mindset to India’s bowling plans. Reflecting on the recent Asia Cup triumph, Gambhir revealed why Jasprit Bumrah was entrusted with three overs in the PowerPlay: “A lot of people relate to this T20 side as a very aggressive batting lineup. For me, I think bowling Jassi three [overs] in the first six was an even more aggressive option with the ball. We don’t want to be a side which is only known as an aggressive batting order, we want to be a side which should be known as an aggressive side overall.”
This approach, he believes, gives India the upper hand in the crucial early overs and sets up wicket-taking opportunities for spinners like Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav in the middle phases. Gambhir is also a staunch advocate for versatility, insisting on having seven to eight bowling options by packing the lineup with all-rounders such as Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. “It is always better to have more options than less options,” Gambhir asserted. “So many times in the past, we have always thought about having six bowling options, and in this T20 side, we have got seven or eight bowling options, which is always important.”
The coach’s faith in his players is evident. Gambhir praised Washington Sundar’s consistent performances over the past months and Axar Patel’s adaptability in both batting and bowling roles. “Not only in subcontinent conditions, the quality they have, I think they are going to flourish in most of the conditions as well, and that is why I feel that Washi bowling in the last seven or eight months has been a huge success for Indian cricket... Axar batting at No. 5, again, he was given a lot of responsibility to bat at No. 5 in the Champions Trophy; he has done exceptionally well, bowled tough overs, bowled in the PowerPlay, bowled in the middle...” Gambhir said.
Transparency and honesty are now hallmarks of the Indian dressing room, according to Gambhir. He highlighted the open communication with new ODI captain Shubman Gill, who was handed a challenging role but responded with maturity and resilience. “Throw guys in the deep sea, as simple as it can get. We did the same with Shubman (Gill) as well when he was appointed as Test captain,” Gambhir commented, alluding to Gill’s impressive leadership during a drawn Test series against England.
With the Australia tour in the rearview mirror, India’s focus shifts to the upcoming home series against South Africa, starting November 14, 2025. Gambhir remains optimistic, confident that the lessons learned and the team’s evolving approach will serve them well in all formats. The road to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is long, but under Gambhir’s watchful eye, India appears determined to stay ahead of the curve—never settling for individual glory when the nation’s pride is at stake.
