The undisputed boss of Indian cricket is once again on the cusp of proving his naysayers wrong, having guided his team to the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue will be playing their second successive final of the tournament, with a chance to become the first team to defend their title and also lift the coveted trophy on home soil.
All of this has happened under the coaching of the man often portrayed as the ‘bad guy’ of Indian cricket — Gautam Gambhir. The India head coach has faced considerable criticism in recent times for the team’s poor performances in Test cricket and for some of his team selections.
All of this has happened under the coaching of the man often portrayed as the ‘bad guy’ of Indian cricket — Gautam Gambhir. The India head coach has faced considerable criticism in recent times for the team’s poor performances in Test cricket and for some of his team selections.
Under his leadership, India are playing a fearsome brand of cricket in which reaching 250 in T20Is almost feels routine. Since the inception of T20 internationals, India have posted scores of 200 or more on 49 occasions, 15 of which have come in the last 20 months. During the same period, India have crossed the 250-run mark five times and have also recorded their highest-ever total of 297.
Building team’s new identity
During Gambhir’s tenure, the average strike rate of Indian batters has been 158.09 — the highest among full-member nations. The head coach has not only carried forward the philosophy of aggressive intent introduced during the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, but has taken it several notches higher.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav spoke about Gambhir’s influence on the team ahead of the final, highlighting how the coach has removed the emphasis on personal milestones and shifted the focus entirely to collective success.
“The main thing is that they have removed the idea of personal milestones from the team. No one focuses on individual records. It’s a team game. Nothing is more important than the team’s goal. If someone wants to hit a six off the first ball, he should do that. And if someone wants to approach the innings differently, that’s fine as well. That’s the philosophy of this team,” Suryakumar said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the final.
Gambhir’s influence is evident not only in the team’s batting prowess but also in the backing he has given to players he believes in. Soon after taking charge, Gambhir brought Varun Chakravarthy back into the T20I set-up, and the wrist-spinner responded by rising to the number-one spot in the bowling rankings within a year.
Backing Players Through Criticism
Since his return to the format, Chakravarthy has been the leading wicket-taker among full-member nations, claiming an impressive 70 wickets in 36 innings at an average of 14.88. Following his success in T20Is, Chakravarthy was drafted into the ODI set-up out of nowhere ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he went on to play a pivotal role in India’s triumph.
Gambhir has also faced criticism for consistently backing fast bowler Harshit Rana. However, the youngster has gradually established himself in ODI cricket, claiming 26 wickets in just 14 matches. Rana could prove particularly useful on the fast and bouncy pitches in South Africa during the 2027 ODI World Cup, especially as age begins to catch up with Mohammed Shami.
Another area where Gambhir has drawn criticism is his apparent preference for all-rounders over specialist players. As a result, players such as Rinku Singh and Kuldeep Yadav have found themselves on the bench more often than expected.
India’s playing XI during the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup has consistently featured three all-rounders — Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube. This strategy has not only provided flexibility in both batting and bowling but has also added valuable depth to the batting order, helping the team keep pace with the demands of modern-day T20 cricket.
Mad Methods which produce results
Another issue for which Gambhir has been criticised is his insistence on maintaining a left-right combination throughout the batting line-up. The team briefly drifted away from this approach at the start of the tournament, with Ishan Kishan opening alongside Abhishek Sharma.
However, opposing teams quickly countered by deploying an off-spinner early against the two left-handers, and both batters repeatedly fell into the trap. The team eventually reverted to opening with Sanju Samson, and the results have been there for all to see. While Samson’s return may have been driven more by necessity than by careful planning, it still aligned with the broader philosophy of the head coach.
With fans often criticising Gambhir’s methods only to praise them once they prove successful, the India head coach arguably deserves far more appreciation than he currently receives. While he is frequently called out for the team’s disappointing performances in Tests at home, he also deserves equal credit for guiding India to successive ICC event finals and giving them a chance to win both.
Ahmedabad Awaits Final Verdict on Gambhir
As India prepare to take the field in Ahmedabad for the grand finale, the spotlight will inevitably fall on Gambhir and the bold philosophy he has implemented since taking charge. The head coach has never been one to shy away from criticism, and his tenure has been marked by several decisions that initially raised eyebrows. Yet, time and again, those decisions have produced results, reinforcing his belief in backing players and trusting a long-term vision.
A victory in the final would not only allow India to defend their T20 World Cup title but would also serve as a powerful statement about the direction in which the team is heading. More importantly, it would validate Gambhir’s methods, his preference for multi-dimensional players, and his unwavering commitment to a fearless approach. For a team that has often been accused of playing it safe in high-pressure tournaments in the past, the current Indian side appears liberated and unapologetically bold.
Whether or not the trophy ultimately ends up in India’s cabinet, Gambhir’s influence on the team is already evident. However, lifting the title in front of a home crowd in Ahmedabad would provide the ultimate answer to his critics — transforming the noise around his methods into applause and firmly cementing his place as one of the most impactful architects of India’s modern white-ball success.
Hence, Ahmedabad will again have to become a silencer in the big final, but this time for the greater good of Indian cricket and their head coach.
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