Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as the Indian coach last year was accompanied by a wave of optimism that he would bring the team up to his level and share his vision. Under his watch, the white-ball team performed exceptionally well and secured the titles of the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup; nevertheless, the team made a detour in red-ball cricket.
Twice this year, the Indian team was unable to win a single match in their own backyard – first against New Zealand and then against the current WTC kings, South Africa. In addition, the red-ball squad was beaten by the Australians, 3-1 as India’s Test team has not yet found its bearings under Gambhir’s leadership.
There were rumors that BCCI has covertly approached VVS Laxman to replace Gambhir as the Test team coach, but the former Indian batter turned down the offer. Yet, it cannot be denied that the Indian Test team needs a new coaching setup, and in case Laxman is not accessible, here are 3 other coaching options that India can consider.
1) Chandrakant Pandit
Arguably, Chandrakant is the most acclaimed Indian domestic coach, and his name is synonymous with the Indian circuit and he has been a winner wherever he steps in.
Chandrakant’s reign saw Vidarbha achieve back-to-back Ranji Trophy championships during the 2018, 2019 seasons, and then he did something incredible with Madhya Pradesh by making them win their first Ranji title in 2022. After that, he went to Kolkata Knight Riders, which led to the team lifting its third IPL title in 2024…
Chandrakant Pandit is familiar with the Indian domestic scenario like the back of his hand, and he can lead the Team India to discover the hidden domestic stars who will be the core members of the rejuvenated Test team.
2) Justin Langer
The Australian side has absolutely no doubt about Justin Langer as he has been one of the main contributors to their victories. He could be a wise choice if the ex-player decides to leave Indian Premier League team, LSG.
His appointment as Australian coach came after the 2018 Sandpaper scandal, and the very first opener gave strength to the squad with his insight. The year 2019 saw Australia, under his coaching, retaining the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001.
This was, of course, followed by a 4-0 hammering of the English in the 2021-22 home series. He stepped down from the position of Australian head coach in 2022, and Langer racked up a win ratio of 55.5 in Tests. Just like the Australia team, the Indian team also requires a reconstruction process, and Langer could do the repeat job.
3) Andy Flower
A trophy is guaranteed to follow Andy Flower wherever he goes, and this has been the trend in every T20 league. In 2025, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captured their first IPL trophy, and who was their head coach? Andy Flower, of course. He is a calming influence in the dressing room.
He has coached England previously, and under his command, the team won the 2010 T20 World Cup and also triumphed over the Australians in the 2010-11 Ashes series. If the BCCI can somehow persuade Flower to resign from the RCB coach position, and make him the Test head coach, things could improve for the Indian side, as the team requires a person who can bring stability after a couple of unfavorable series.
Conclusion
India’s coaching department needs a reshuffle and the BCCI indeed has three first-class choices among the available options after the two series clean sweeps in Tests at home. The cricket team is looking for a visionary in Tests, and the three mentioned names would be a blessing for Team India while Gambhir can still work his magic in white-ball cricket.
