Gautam Gambhir Optimistic About India's World Test Championship Prospects

India's Ambitions for the World Test Championship

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 23: Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, expressed confidence in the team's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He emphasized that securing victories in the upcoming series against New Zealand and Australia is crucial for their aspirations.

In an interview with JioStar, Gambhir highlighted that the team's immediate focus is on the series against New Zealand and Australia, stressing the necessity of winning each Test match.

Currently, India sits fifth in the World Test Championship (2025-2027) standings, having achieved five wins, four losses, and two draws from 11 matches. Despite a recent 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka, their points percentage declined due to a draw in the second match, placing them fifth as they prepare for the New Zealand series starting November 19.

India is set to play two Tests against New Zealand in November and December, followed by a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia from January to March.

Gambhir noted that while six wins would be ideal for qualifying for the WTC final, five victories could suffice depending on other match outcomes. He remains optimistic and insists on the importance of winning every Test, stating that triumphs in the upcoming series would significantly enhance their chances of reaching the final. He acknowledged the challenges posed by both series, particularly the significance of winning in New Zealand after nearly two decades and the tough competition against Australia in a five-match series.

"It's not true that we need to win six matches; five could keep us in the race, but we must focus on winning every Test match," he remarked during the JioStar interview.

Gambhir emphasized the importance of winning both series, stating, "If we can win both upcoming series, we will maximize our chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship. As long as we have a chance, we will remain optimistic. I believe in giving our all, even if the opportunity seems slim. Winning both series would be a significant achievement."

He recalled the last time India won a series in New Zealand, which was around 2006 or 2007, nearly 20 years ago. He believes that if this young team can achieve that, it would be a remarkable accomplishment. Facing Australia at home for five Tests is also a daunting task, but he is confident in the team's preparation and commitment.

Gambhir expressed his eagerness for the upcoming Tests, stating, "I am looking forward to playing against Australia at home, especially after our previous tour there. However, our immediate focus is on New Zealand."

The Indian Test team has recently struggled with spin in home conditions, an area where they were once dominant. They faced a 0-3 defeat against New Zealand in the 2024-25 home Test series and lost 0-2 to South Africa in the 2025-26 season, with their batters finding it challenging to cope with spin in both series.

However, Gambhir noted that improved preparation allowed India to handle spin better during their recent Test series against Sri Lanka, where they scored over 400 runs in both matches. He pointed out that the team had 10 days to prepare for spin before the series, unlike the limited practice time before the South Africa series. He stressed that the focus ahead of the New Zealand and Australia series will be on effective preparation and enhancing their ability to counter spin.

"In the Sri Lanka series, we scored over 400 runs in both innings, which reflects our preparation. We had ample time to practice against spin, leading to positive results. I won't make excuses, but the reality is that our preparation before the South Africa series was inadequate due to a tight schedule. We need to ensure we are well-prepared before facing New Zealand and Australia, particularly in managing spin," he concluded.