Before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 series, India head coach Gautam Gambhir moved away from the methods used during the Dravid era. Gambhir’s tactics boosted the performances of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and several other players following India’s disappointing series against Australia.
After a 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India returned to England with the same squad, excluding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The team now faced the added challenge of playing with the Dukes’ ball in English conditions, which is tougher than using the Kookaburra ball in Australia.
Gautam Gambhir’s Changes Brought Out the Best in Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant
Gautam Gambhir made a key difference in Team India’s approach. According to a report in The Indian Express, he replaced outdated methods with more effective and reliable strategies, which significantly improved the performances of key players, including the captain and vice-captain.
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Rishabh Pant, who had impressed during the 2020-21 Australia tour, struggled in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring only 255 runs at an average of 28.33.
Shubman Gill managed just 93 runs across three Tests while batting at No. 3 and was also dropped from the playing XI during the Melbourne Test. Gambhir aimed to address these underwhelming performances and bring out the best in the team.
Spend More Time at the Crease – Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak overhauled Team India’s Test batting approach ahead of the England series. They shifted the focus from aggressive “intent” to patience at the crease, encouraging batters to spend more time in the middle rather than forcing runs.
Shubman Gill adapted well to this patient approach, while vice-captain Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive style, also made conscious efforts to preserve his wicket. Pant was even seen speaking to himself after nearly losing his wicket during matches, reflecting his focus on the new strategy.
The coaches closely monitored practice sessions, guiding batters on maintaining composure. This marked a change from the Dravid-era emphasis on attacking intent, moving toward a more traditional style adapted to English conditions.
Gautam Gambhir’s Revamp Tactics Help Batting Success for Team India
The report added that Gautam Gambhir targeted vice-captain Rishabh Pant’s frequent mistakes on the Australia tour. Gambhir encouraged Pant to focus on his weaknesses through hard work, discipline, and concentration.
“Aap apni khamiyon pe work karte ho (You work on your limitations) … that helps to change a setback into a comeback … I am able to change myself through hard work, focus, and a bit of discipline,” he told the southpaw, as per the paper.
The results were evident by the series’ end, with Pant and Shubman Gill performing at their best. Team India amassed 3,809 runs in the series, the second-highest total by any side in Test cricket history.
The lower order, including Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Akash Deep, struggled in the first few matches. However, Akash Deep scored a half-century in the final Test at The Oval.
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