indian cricket team

Former India Player Suggests Split Coaching System Amid Struggles In ENG vs IND Tests

Samarnath Soory

Last updated: July 20, 2025

3 min read

India began life under Gautam Gambhir with a T20I series win over Sri Lanka but lost the ODI series. This was followed by a trouncing of Bangladesh in Tests and T20Is before the team started to settle down. Multiple senior players had announced their retirement from T20Is, and their Test cricket was also about to change.

They were shockingly whitewashed 0-3 by New Zealand on home turf. Their historical defeat against the Black Caps was followed by a thumping T20I series win in South Africa, which then followed a demoralising 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

Gautam Gambhir And India’s Poor Test Performances

The pattern carried on with their Champions Trophy 2025 triumph in Dubai. They were the most dominant force, before which they routed England in T20Is and ODIs at home. They are back in the Test whites playing in England, this time under the leadership of new skipper Shubman Gill.

Despite their daring displays in batting and bowling, they lost control of an advantage at Headingley and Lord’s. It led to the defeats in the first and third Tests, respectively. Now they trail the series 1-2 while facing the prospect of multiple injuries to their pace department.

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After succumbing to their first-ever 3-0 whitewash at home, followed by losing the BGT for the first time in 10 years, India stand on the verge of losing yet another Test series in England.

This has raised questions over Gambhir’s methods, which have suited the white-ball formats but didn’t take off in the longest format.

Harbhajan Singh Suggests Split-coaching For White-ball and Red-ball Formats

Gambhir’s former India teammate Harbhajan Singh suggested that the BCCI can look at a split-coaching strategy like England had done with Matthew Mott for white-ball formats and Brendon McCullum for Tests since 2022.

“I feel if it can be implemented, there is nothing wrong in it. You have different teams and different players for formats. If we can do it, it’s a good option. It will reduce workload for everyone, including the coaches,” Harbhajan said in an interview with India Today.

“If you overwork one coach for the whole year, he, too, has a family and responsibilities. Traveling constantly with family isn’t easy. So yes, if you ask me, splitting red-ball and white-ball coaching is a good move,” the former off-spinner added.

India will take on England in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford from Wednesday (July 23).

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