India head coach Gautam Gambhir has acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing the Test team following the departures of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli
and Ravichandran Ashwin, while insisting that red-ball cricket remains a priority for the side.
Gambhir, reflecting on his two-year tenure as India head coach, said replacing players of Rohit, Kohli and Ashwin's stature will take time as the team develops a new core under Test captain Shubman Gill.
"I think the best part is that we've played reasonably good Test cricket since England," Gambhir told broadcasters JioStar. "I'm not saying that we're still not a work in progress because the amount of transition that has happened in Test cricket, especially with the likes of Rohit, Virat, Ashwin going, obviously it is very difficult to replace those kinds of players. "
Gambhir accepts share of failures
Gambhir took charge of the Indian team in July 2024 and has overseen significant success in white-ball cricket, including India's Champions Trophy triumph in 2025 and their T20 World Cup title in 2026.
His tenure has also included setbacks in Test cricket, with India suffering series defeats against Australia away from home and New Zealand and South Africa at home.
Gambhir said he has accepted both the successes and failures that have come with the responsibility of coaching India across formats.
"Whether it was Test cricket, whether it is one-day cricket or T20 cricket, yes, I've had success, which obviously I will always cherish, but I've had my share of failures as well," he said. "Which again, I accept with both hands. "
India facing major Test transition
The departures of Rohit, Kohli and Ashwin have left India rebuilding a Test side that had been shaped by the three senior players for more than a decade.
Gambhir stressed that their experience and contributions to Indian red-ball cricket cannot simply be replicated by the next generation.
"Because the amount of talent, the amount of experience those guys had, and the amount of what they've done for Indian cricket in red-ball cricket, it's not going to be easy for anyone to replace them, so it will take time," he said.
India are now looking to build around Gill while giving younger players greater responsibility in the longest format. Gambhir believes sustained backing of the new generation can eventually help India establish another strong Test side.
"I'm sure if we keep backing the right players, probably Indian cricket will start dominating red-ball cricket for a long, long period of time," he added.
Red-ball cricket remains a priority
India's upcoming schedule will give the new-look Test side several opportunities to establish itself. After the current white-ball series against the West Indies, India are scheduled to play a multi-format tour of New Zealand before facing Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in limited-overs cricket.
The major Test assignment that follows will be a five-match home series against Australia.
For Gambhir, the importance of Test cricket extends beyond individual results. He believes India's long-term strength across formats is linked to maintaining a strong red-ball programme.
"When you're getting the new guys in red-ball cricket, you look at their age and number of matches they have played, you try to make them feel how important Test cricket is," Gambhir said.
"I'm a very big believer that a strong Test cricketing nation is a strong cricketing nation. So, red-ball still remains our priority. "
